During Roberts’ tenure as department chair from
1925-58, he shared with thousands of fellow citizens his passion and
love of music. He is remembered as a demanding teacher, a kind mentor
who was dedicated to the education of young musicians, and a catalyst
for attracting a high quality of musical talent to Winthrop.
“Some of the happiest moments of my father’s
life were spent in Byrnes Auditorium. He had such pride in the fact
that South Carolina had an organ of that caliber,” said Mary Gene
Roberts Hardin ’45. “The family is very proud to honor his legacy by
supporting the restoration of the D.B. Johnson Memorial Organ.”
During the organ’s golden anniversary this
year, university alumni and friends are asked to contribute to
renovate the organ to its former glory. Rock Hill organist Shirley
Fishburne ‘72 and ’73 and former Board of Trustees chair and local
attorney David White are leading the effort to raise $400,000 for the
restoration.
A series of mini-concerts in South Carolina and
Georgia have helped promote awareness of the organ campaign. The next
concert is set for Sept. 18 at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in
Spartanburg, S.C.
For more information, contact the Office of
Development at 803/323-2150 or check out the Web site at:
http://www.winthrop.edu/organcampaign/
