Megan Reed, Campus Carrier Editor-in-Chief
Professor of music Stan Pethel arrived at Berry in the fall of 1973 at the age of 23, and after four decades at Berry he is now retiring at the end of the semester.
Pethel, who teaches low brass instruments, heard about the job opening from his former trombone teacher while he was living in Athens and teaching at Clarke County Middle School. He was hired with an annual salary of $4,500 and soon became heavily involved in the Berry community.
He has taught almost every music course in the catalog and composed pieces for the inaugurations of three Berry presidents, and he also officiates athletic events in his spare time. He said he is glad he was able to spend his career at Berry.
“I’ve had a couple of nibbles from other institutions to work there,” he said. “But I never pursued [them] because I liked it here. I raised my family here.”
A concert on April 3 in Ford Auditorium honored Pethel’s 43-year tenure at Berry. Several of his former students returned as guest conductors, and provost Kathy Richardson served as the emcee. Richardson met Pethel when she was an undergraduate student at Shorter College in Rome and sang in a choir that Pethel directed.
“It was nice to have that really nice friendship and the professional relationship,” Richardson said.
Dean of students Debbie Heida said Pethel’s farewell concert reflected his role in the Berry community.
“The concert was so him. I thought the thing was so amazing was that he would end it with a march that included the alma mater and we would all sing it together,” Heida said. “It’s about Berry, not about Stan.”
Alumnus Gene Greer (‘88), one of the guest conductors at the concert, said Pethel always put his students first.
“You could always go into his office. You didn’t have to schedule a time. It was more like talking to a family member,” Greer said. “It wasn’t necessarily even a music thing. I had some difficulties while I was at Berry. Some of those situations and circumstances, I just needed somebody to listen.”
Greer, who is now the band director at Chattooga High School in Summerville, said Pethel influenced him to pursue a career in teaching.
“I wanted to be a professional symphony player, and he said ‘What happens if you don’t do that? What’s your next plan?’ … I really didn’t have an answer,” Greer said. “He told me about how he came to Berry. He taught middle school and all that and he said that teaching music is a noble profession. Music is all I’ve ever wanted to do. I came to Berry to do that.”
Greer said having Pethel as a mentor has also influenced his easy-going demeanor in the classroom and his teaching style.
“People who have met both of us, they go, ‘I see why you’re the way that you are,’” he said.
One of Pethel’s current students, senior Matt Soares, said Pethel knows how to balance diligent work with humor.
“We may be playing serious music, but it’s always fun the whole way through,” Soares said.
Pethel said he and his students find time for fun, especially on trips. He often takes students on trips to perform at churches in the area.
“We called it the pizza tour because we would play and then go eat pizza,” he said. “They’ll follow me anywhere for a T-shirt and pizza.”
Greer said Pethel will be fondly remembered at Berry.
“There will never be another Dr. Pethel, but I look forward to whoever they will hire in his stead,” he said.
Pethel said he plans on spending time with his grandchildren, continuing to compose music and remaining active in his church. He said he is grateful for his time at Berry.
“I just want to thank Berry for putting up with me for 43 years. It’s been great fun,” he said.