Hayes School of Music

Elizabeth Fox (January 12, 1924 - November 28, 2007), was born in Russellville, Arkansas, the daughter of Ilah Pless and Ernest C. Fox. Fox attended Russellville High School and graduated in 1942. She has one sibling, John E. Fox, who resides in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Fox attended Arkansas Polytechnic College (now Arkansas Tech University), Russellville, from 1942 to 1943 and received her bachelor's in music from North Texas State University, Denton, in 1945. After graduating, Fox taught general music and private piano (first grade through high school) for a year in the public schools in Hartford, Arkansas. Fox was also a choir director at the Hartford Methodist Church.

In 1946, Fox returned to Arkansas Polytechnic College, now as an instructor; she was hired to fill a one-year, leave-of-absence position. While at the college, Fox taught piano, theory, music appreciation, and music methods. She then became a faculty member at the demonstration school of Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, where she taught music (kindergarten-high school). She also taught music methods courses for elementary education majors and music majors in the college. While employed at Arkansas State, Fox did some graduate study during the summer at the University of Indiana, Bloomington, (1948), and George Peabody College, Nashville, Tennessee (1949).

In 1950, Fox went back to North Texas State, where she worked on her M.M.Ed. degree and taught secondary piano. While at the university she organized and conducted the Denton children's choir. Fox graduated in 1951 and took a position as supervisor of elementary music for Ector County public schools, Odessa, Texas, until 1957. She played the cello in the Odessa-Midland Symphony Orchestra and served as church organist at St. Paul's Methodist Church in Odessa, Texas.

Fox came to Appalachian State Teachers' College (now Appalachian State University) in 1957 as an assistant professor in the Department of Music. She taught a wide variety of undergraduate courses as well as many upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses.

While at Appalachian State, Fox broadened her knowledge of music through graduate work at the University of Denver, Denver, Colorado (summer 1951), Arkansas State University (summer 1961), and the University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware (summer 1967).

Fox devoted much of her time to the university by serving on the following committees: Music Honors Committee, Music Curriculum Committee, Music Library Committee, Academic Policies and Procedures Committee, Ad Hoc Committee on Student Relations, Publications Committee, Artist and Lecture Committee, University Campus-Wide and Public Programs Committee, May Day Festival Committee, Graduate Thesis Committee, Departmental Personnel Committee, and Music Graduate Committee. Fox was the freshman advisor for all but one year of her tenure, as well as an advisor in the General College, and a financial advisor to Sigma Alpha Iota. She was also the sponsor for the Music Educators National Conference (MENC) student chapter and the advisor to a folk dance club.

Professionally, Fox has been a member of the North Carolina Music Educators Association, MENC (state advisor for student chapter), Sigma lpha Iota Ph Kappa Lambda, Alpha Chi, Kappa Delta Pi, and Watauga Music Teachers Association. Fox also served as advisor to the Rhododendron staff for six years and served as organist to the First Presbyterian Church.

Fox served as music consultant in Buncombe County, North Carolina and in the North Carolina towns of Sparta and Gastonia. Fox also conducted service workshops in Johnson City, Tennessee, and Marion, North Carolina, and taught two elementary school classes for one year in addition to regular college classes.

Fox was promoted to associate professor in 1975 and retired in 1979. She was chief faculty marshal for the 1979 commencement and was honored with emerita status by the Board of Trustees in 1982.

In her retirement years, Fox has been very active. She spent one year (1979-80) in Russellville, Arkansas, taking care of her mother. She now lives in Boone but spends her winters in Arizona and Arkansas. She works as a volunteer at Watauga County Hospital, and she is active in the RSVP program, the Greater Boone Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, the Boone United Methodist Church, and as an accompanist to the Presbyterian-Methodist children's choir. Fox enjoys reading mysteries, walking, and traveling extensively to such places as England, Portugal, Spain, and the Canary Islands. She is enjoying life to its fullest.

Sources: Appalachian State University files, long association, and personal interviews.

-Dr. Richard D. Howe