And now what did you do TODAY?

[MexicanDragon]

My sincerest condolences. I like Dan's advice on this.

**BRENT**

[archosman]

Dad's obituary. Nice to have a sister who's a writer...

James Richard Cox was born Nov 27, 1928 in Wilburton Ok to Monnie Mae (Colvard) Cox and Allen Marshall Cox. He died on May 22, 2012 in Tulsa at the age of 83. He attended high school in McAlister Ok, and while still a student there, began his career in music. He participated in many professional music events in the area, performing on his primary instrument, the tenor saxophone. . He was granted a music scholarship at the University of Tulsa, where he enrolled when he was just 16.

He graduated at the age of 19 from TU with a degree in Music Education and later, Educational Administration. While at TU, he participated in many stage shows and dance bands, until the 45th infantry was mobilized for the Korean War. His unit was moved to Camp Polk, Louisiana, before their deployment to Korea. He was a Gunnery Sergeant in the 160th field artillery until, at the age of 19, he became the youngest Sergeant Major of the 45th when he was promoted to that position with the 45th Infantry Division Band. The band performed in USO shows for the troops in the Far East command, including many performances throughout the islands of Japan.

Upon his return from Korea, he entered the University of Tulsa summer music program, working on his master’s degree. That same summer, bandleader Jerry Wald invited him to New Orleans to begin touring with his orchestra. While in New York City with the band, Richard successfully auditioned for the Claude Thornhill Symphonic Orchestra, and began performing in concerts up and down the East Coast. He toured for over 2 years with the orchestra, playing in many venues such as the Steel Pier in Atlantic City and also toured in the Maritime Provinces in Canada. Richard was recently the subject of a feature story in the January 2012 edition of the British publication Jazz Journal , highlighting his tenure as a traveling musician with the Thornhill band.

In 1953 he left the road behind and returned to Tulsa to begin his teaching career, first as a music instructor at Clinton Junior High. That same year, he met Corrie Belle Unthank, a radio vocalist singing on the KVOO morning program “Eggs At Eight.” They married on Dec 23, 1955 in Greenville, SC. They had three children, Suzanne, David, and Stephen. Richard and Corrie often performed together around town, especially in area churches, with Corrie singing and playing beautiful piano, and Richard on the tenor saxophone. In 1955 he became the first orchestra and instrumental music director of Edison High School, where he spent many years teaching orchestra and marching band, and founded the original Screaming Eagles Jazz Band, a group which won many accolades at contests and festivals. He was promoted to counselor, assistant principal, and later principal of Edison High school, although during those years as an administrator, he was still known to slip into the band room to lead a session with the Screaming Eagles.

He was involved in many educational associations, including terms as President of both the National and State Assistant Principals Associations, was a life member of the National Education Association and the Oklahoma High School Principals Association. He was a 25 year member of the Kiwanis Club of Tulsa, and Chairman of their Scholarship Committee. He remained at Edison for 26 years, while still performing as a professional musician for local & national touring shows in the Tulsa Area. He played many of those dates alongside his brother, alto sax player Allen Ben Cox, including stints with the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus, The Ice Capades, and Disney on Ice. He was a life member of American Federation of Musicians Local 94, and at various times was a member of the Tulsa Philharmonic, the Oklahoma Synphonia, and the Bartlesville Symphony. In 1988 he was appointed principal at Will Rogers High School, and eleven years later moved to the Education Service Center as an Assistant to the area Assistant Superintendents, where he retired in 1999.

Music education and performance was always Richard’s first love. For many years he was the choir and orchestra director at Evangelistic Temple, including directing the music for a weekly television program on Channel 8 led by Dr. Dan Beller. He was known for producing seasonal concerts for the church, and also wrote many original religious musical compositions. He was also well-known in the community as the musical director for the annual Red Gloves Review, producer and bandleader for the Starlight Jazz Concerts, and for 13 years directed the orchestra and musical program for the Miss Oklahoma Pageant. After retirement from the Tulsa Public School system, he enjoyed visiting young students eager to learn about music, and also taught jazz clinics at the high school level. He had many friends and colleagues in both the music and education community in Tulsa, and rarely ventured out without being approached by friendly students he taught throughout the years. Over the years he also toured with Art Mooney and Henry Mancini, and performed with a host of musical greats, including Doc Severinsen, Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Torme, Bob Hope, Red Skelton, Frank Sinatra Jr., Debbie Reynolds, Donald O’Connor, Buddy Rich, Natalie Cole, Andrea Crouch, Rodney Dangerfield, Sandy Duncan, the Ink Spots, Anne Murray, Pete Fountain, Ray Charles, Sam Harris, Maureen McGovern, and many others. He continued to enjoy performing at music events in the Tulsa area until late 2011.

Richard Is donating his extensive library of valuable orchestra arrangements to the University of Tulsa Jazz Orchestra, in hopes that other will enjoy them, as he has, for years to come.

Richard was talented, gentle, kind, driven, a good listener, dedicated to family, optimistic, and added a healthy dose of humor to everything he did.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Corrie, children Suzanne (Robert) Gordon, David (Robin) Cox, and Stephen Cox, grandchildren Lily Grace Gordon and Corrie Leigh Cox, brother Allen Ben (Patsi) Cox, and seven nieces and nephews.

[Hopstretch]

A fine life, lived well. RIP.

[blessingx]

Wow, that's quite a full life. Thanks for posting.

[mikeymad]

thanks for sharing... a life lived...

[livewire]

Thanks for the post.

Godspeed Mr. James Cox.

[Dreadhead]

Thanks for sharing. RIP

[skullguise]

All of the above....a fine tribute to seemingly a great man. RIP, and may the memories be long and wonderful.

[morphsci]

That is a fine tribute to a well- lived life. RIP.

[Voltron]

A fine life, lived well. RIP.

Indeed. Thanks for sharing.

[boomana]

Definitely a live well lived and loved. Warm wishes to you and your family.

[Wmcmanus]

My condolences, Archos. Try to be one of the strong ones.

[robm321]

My condolences, and thanks for sharing. Take care

[Wmcmanus]

Thanks.

She's a great lady, really. Couldn't have asked for better, growing up. Just can be a little kooky and stubborn. Like most Moms, I suppose.

It sounds like your mom is just an incredibly self-dependent and intelligent woman who has a strong locus of control. She wants to understand everything so that she won't have to rely on you or anyone else, or will at least be confident that she'll know what questions to ask when she does need help.

It's probably more of a generational gap than anything. If she were your age and grew up with this sort of technology, she would know this stuff inside and out because she's so curious and determined. The irony is that by trying so hard not to be burdensome to you, she makes it impossible for you to help her!

[jvlgato]

Boy, this absolutely, positively spot on. You'd make a good shrink. Or maybe you just have a Mom that is similar?

It has served her quite well in life, for the most part. But sometimes ya just have to let go ...

My guess is that if we lived in the same city, and I had time to sit down with her over time, she'd get it and love it. In fact, I wouldn't be suprised if she got an iPad a year from now. She was the same with the internet. I showed it to her early on and she got frustrated, scoffed, and decided she had no interest. Several year later, she spent time in her local library just playing around, trying it out on her own terms, and asking me questions here and there over time. Now she goes on the internet every day, checks her email every day, does Facebook. She even learned how to text message me. Which is a mixed blessing. I'll just leave her be and she'll come back to it when she's ready.

Maybe she needs a visit from Santa ...

[luvdunhill]

Left one of the most difficult work confrontations I've ever had to hop in the car and drive to NJ over the next 7 days to work in Princeton for 3 months with some of the coolest smartest people I have met in my field. Sweet!

[raffy]

Left one of the most difficult work confrontations I've ever had to hop in the car and drive to NJ over the next 7 days to work in Princeton for 3 months with some of the coolest smartest people I have met in my field. Sweet!

Good for you Marc! At least you won't have to deal with them difficult pricks at work back in Texas. Enjoy your time in NJ!

[The Monkey]

Packing to head to my parents' place for the weekend. Not at all looking forward to the drive but looking forward to getting out of Dodge.

[morphsci]

Packing to head to my parents' place for the weekend. Not at all looking forward to the drive but looking forward to getting out of Dodge.

Having driven to Montauk from the city, I feel both your pain and joy. Have fun.

[Dreadhead]

We're going to the lake house tomorrow after Meaghan's dad arrives tonight

[agile_one]

Dinny in the Hampton's with dad's wine and liquor closet ... what could possibly go wrong?

[mrarroyo]

Packing to drive over to a rented a place to spend the weekend with the in-laws. Should be a lot of fun since they are great people, better than me for sure.

Edited May 25, 2012 by mrarroyo

[jvlgato]

Parents, brother, sister in law and their four kids on their way for a visit for the weekend.

[ironbut]

Gee,

After reading these last posts, I've decided that my life has become boring and in a total rut!

I think I'll make out a list and research the hell out of it this weekend.

[agile_one]

Steve ... FL is not boring. Come over to the right coast .