Stephen M. Fox ’70

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Stephen died Dec. 24, 2013, in Galesburg, Ill. He was 65. He served in the U.S. Marines for two years at Camp Pendleton in California, where he met his future wife of 40 years, Pam Eubanks. The couple married in 1973 and moved to Galesburg the following year. Stephen spent 30 years with his father’s construction business and retired in 2012 as a field representative for LECET, an international labor union organization. He was an active volunteer, serving on the city of Galesburg Overall Review Board, as director and vice president of the Jaycees, and as coach for youth sports team. He is survived by his wife, three sons and four grandchildren.

Chris Eldredge ’78

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Chris and his wife Robin of Nashville, Tenn., are the parents of an emerging country music songwriter and singer! Their son, 27-year-old Brett Eldredge, has released several popular songs, including the No.1 hit “Don’t Ya”. He has also toured with country music artists Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban.

Lisa Ragsdale ’72

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On May 4th, 2014, Lisa Renee Ragsdale’s “Three Candy Bars” for Alto Sax & Marimba received its premier performance in St. Paul, MN by Kyle Hutchins, saxophonist and David Birrow, percussionist, both members of a group known as “The Renegade Ensemble” who sponsored the concert. Mr. Hutchins asked Lisa to compose something new for him in October 2013 and Lisa wrote the three works (one per month) from November 2013 through January 2014.

Also between January and April 2014, Lisa composed two new works for solo clarinet and a trombone Quartet for the ensemble known as “The trombones of the St. Louis Symphony.” Tim Myers, principal trombone of the St. Louis Symphony formed this ensemble with the other members of the trombone section in 2006 and have been asking for and commissioning new works for trombone quartet.

Already planned is another concert of works by Ragsdale for September 14th, 2014. Working with five U of MN students and a pianist friend, Ragsdale’s 2nd and 3rd wind quintets will be performed along with her Sonata for bassoon and piano, 2 works for solo oboe, and 2 works for solo clarinet. Currently Lisa is at work on two songs for soprano and alto sax and a work for full orchestra.