Hilary Dow Wardâs mornings started earlier than most during her four years at Emporia High School. Ward, driven by her passion for music and choir, commuted for more than an hour one way just to attend school.
It was worth it, she says, for the support and education she received from longtime choir director Don Grant.
âI drove over 30,000 miles for over four years to be in his choir at Emporia High School,â Ward said. âAnd every day when I got there, he always said, âThank you for being here.â And at the time, I donât think it meant the very much, but it was significant because it took me more than an hour to get to school and more than an hour to get home every day, but I did it because it was such a superior opportunity to what I would have had otherwise.â
Don Everett Grant dedicated his life to what he loved most â music. The legendary teacher and choir director taught high school music for forty years, and he shared his passion with thousands of students. He was a reflection and demonstration of excellence in musicianship, kindheartedness, citizenship, and humanity for his students, many of whom went on to have professional careers in music.
Don died on December 19 in Kansas City, Missouri from complications arising from Covid-19.
The youngest of four children, Don was born on June 25, 1942 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, to parents US and Lillian (Benners) Grant. The family moved to Kansas City when he was a young boy, and Don sang his first solo in church when he was three years old. A proud alumnus of the University of Kansas School of Music, he earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree as well as a Masters of Music in Choral Conducting.