In Sunday’s (6/29) Salt Lake Tribune, Michael McFall notes the passing of Herold LaMar “Huck” Gregory, former executive director of the Utah Symphony, on June 18 at the age of 90. “Thanks to him,” McFall writes, “the Utah Symphony’s musicians went around the world, started recording … and reached out to children across the state, free of charge.” A native of Farmington, Utah, Gregory served in the European theater during World War II. “When he came back from war, he went on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and married his college sweetheart, actress Mary Ethel Eccles, in the Salt Lake Temple. He is remembered as a proud father, loving husband, and a devoted member of his Mormon faith.… And for many, he left a legacy as a longtime executive director of the Utah Symphony … from 1957 to 1986. He was also the Utah Symphony Board secretary for 42 years.… Despite the budget growing 30 times in size, Gregory kept the symphony in the black with rising ticket sales. And [in 1980] the musical group became the first full-time symphony with a year-round schedule west of the Mississippi, according to the [Utah Symphony] statement.”
Posted July 1, 2014
