When I first came to Kansas and became involved with KMEA, then president-elect Dee Hansen and I met during the fall KCOMTEP meeting. She introduced me to John Huber, the KMEA Advisor for CMENC (now NAfME Collegiate). I was immediately impressed with John's passion for working with collegiate members of KMEA and agreed when asked to serve as co-advisor with him. During the years we worked together, I enjoyed spending time with John at the registration table for the collegiate members when they arrived for the KMEA ISW. He was always engaged, helpful, and showed genuine interest in them. I also remember that many former students of his would come by to talk and express their appreciation for what they learned from him and how influential he was to their success as music teachers. John has served KMEA in many ways during the years; however, I think it is his dedication to the developing music teachers that will be his most enduring legacy. I appreciate all he did for the collegiate organization and I look forward to his continued involvement in KMEA.

John Huber has been a music education icon in Kansas for many years. In 1981, I began my undergraduate music education degree at Fort Hays State University where Mr. Huber was chair of the music department. He was a great leader and the music department at FHSU flourished under his direction. Mr. Huber also taught Aural Skills, Music Theory, and Group Piano. Many of his former students have graduated with their music education bachelor degrees from Fort Hays and gone on to seek a graduate degree. Although graduate level music entrance exams can be quite intense, many of his former students' attribute their success on those exams to John Huber's teaching and guidance of aural skills and music theory. John has been involved with NAfME Collegiate (formerly CMENC) for more years than I can remember. He has taught and encouraged hundreds of music education majors in the past few decades to get involved in their collegiate music professional organizations. KMEA owes John Huber a huge debt of gratitude for his many years of exemplary service to our profession.

Dr. Huber has been the model of commitment and caring for students. In the several years I have known him as a NAfME Collegiate chair, he has demonstrated unending support for music education students in our state. His experience serving Kansas students has been invaluable. I will miss his quick smile and patient mentoring.

Although I only needed one keyboard class for my master's degree at FHSU, I decided to take as many classes as I could with Mr. Huber. Our discussions of music theory, church music, and classical improvisation and keyboard score reading during Advanced Keyboard Skills helped me become a better teacher. I always enjoy our theory discussions on the convention floor at KMEA.

John Huber was much more than a teacher to me—he was a mentor, a friend, and a neighbor (I grew up across the street from him). In the classroom he went the extra mile. He was always the first to arrive at school in the morning and the last to leave at night. He held the highest of standards and taught a grueling curriculum, but offered extra help when I was struggling and generally cared about my well-being. He taught me the meaning of hard work as a music student. I can honestly say I would not be the musician or educator I am today without John Huber.