On November 4, 2006, John Schmidt received a Citation of Merit from the Association of Southwestern University Alumni. The Citation of Merit is given to former Southwestern students who have performed exceptional civic and/or professional services in a given geographic area or field of endeavor. The following citation was read as John was presented his award.

It probably would have surprised most people who knew him at the time if John Schmidt had not decided to enroll at Southwestern as he comes from an extended family of Southwestern alumni. His parents and sisters were, as he puts it, “SU folk,” as were a number of uncles, aunts, cousins … you get the picture. John says, “Even my grandmother went to Southwestern for a semester, but she couldn’t take the rigid discipline imposed on female students of her era!”

At Southwestern, John continued to pursue his passion and gift for music. “By the time I arrived at Southwestern,” says John, “I had decided on college teaching and church music as my career goals.” Happily, John has had an incredibly successful career thus far, and he would probably even agree that he has fulfilled the ambitions of his youth.

His colleagues at Texas State, where he has been a member of the music faculty since 1976, only sing praises for John’s gifts as an organist and as a teacher. Notes one, “John is the essence of professorial commitment to building young musicians. He takes an active role in each individual. As a classroom instructor, John fosters academic excellence and balances expectation with compassion.”

The director of the School of Music at Texas State continues, saying, “John exemplifies your Citation of Merit in a number of ways. He is absolutely selfless in his willingness to give his time and talents to the School of Music and his students. Neither I, nor anyone I know, have ever heard John say ‘no’ to anything.” He continues, “John is kind and gentle; he quietly gives and gives and gives! I assume that there must be some limit to John's ability or willingness to contribute, but so far I have not found one.”

John’s excellence and impact also extend beyond the classroom, as the gift of music he shares whenever he plays for an audience is surely as great as the gifts he brings to the classroom. “John is an outstanding organist,” explains one of his friends. “He is extraordinarily gifted and nationally recognized.” Indeed, John holds the highest classification bestowed by the American Guild of Organists and in 2002 was recognized at the Guild’s national convention for his high marks in all three areas of the examination process.

Friends and colleagues alike describe John as a moral man of strong values, as a friend for life. One says, “I can go to him for anything.” Another that, “John reminds us all of what makes a true gentleman. You cannot get John to say a bad thing about ANY of his colleagues. His is supportive and honorable in all things.”

John, it is obvious that you have done so much to exemplify the qualities recognized by the Citation of Merit. Personally and professionally, you have been a source of inspiration to your friends and colleagues, a reassuring source of guidance to your students and a model of humanity.

For being true to yourself and others and for promoting lifelong learning and a passion of intellectual and personal growth, the Association of Southwestern University Alumni is honored to present you with the Citation of Merit. Congratulations!