T. Jervis Underwood

Dr. T. (Troy) Jervis Underwood, professor emeritus, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, was an exceptional husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend to all who loved him. His kindness, easiness, fairness, intelligence, sense of humor and warmth were obvious to anyone who met him. He passed away April 26, 2017, at the age of 85 at Good Samaritan, Denton Village, Texas, after a lengthy illness.

Jervis was born March 10, 1932, in Harrold, Texas. He was the eldest of three children born to Edgar H. Underwood and Hazel (Haralson) Underwood. Jervis grew up in Electra, Texas. He graduated from Electra High School in May 1949. He was a member of the National Honor Society and a band and choir member for three years, serving as a student director. Many years later, in 1992, he was awarded the Howard L. Smith Spirit Award by the Electra High School Band and Choir Ex-Students Association.

Jervis knew at an early age music would play an important part in his life. His ambition was to become a virtuoso performer, composer and conductor. While still in high school, he joined the Wichita Falls, Texas, Symphony Orchestra, playing second flute. The accolades for his performances began even at this young age as Frederic Balazs, conductor, was quoted in a newspaper article: "Jervis is one of the most ardent and faithful members of the organization. Regardless of weather or transportation difficulties, he will be in his chair for every rehearsal. You'll find him near the middle."

In 1948, Jervis met Dr. George Morey, flute instructor at North Texas State College, when he was hired to play principal flute with the Wichita Falls Symphony. Jervis hitchhiked to Denton, where he took flute lessons from Dr. Morey. This led to a longtime relationship of study and friendship that began with his bachelor's degree and culminated with coursework that led to the completion of his Ph.D. from North Texas State University in 1970.

Jervis began working on his Bachelor of Music degree in the summer of 1949 at North Texas State College and until fall of 1951, when he joined the U.S. Army. Stationed at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, he was a member of the U.S. Fourth Army Band, one of the finest service bands during the Korean and Vietnamese conflicts. The Fourth Army Band participated in a weekly radio program: Concert in Khaki, 1953, with Jervis playing flute and piccolo. The Fourth Army Band participated in many concerts and parades and often welcomed returning service members from Korean service. Jervis attended many Fourth Army Band Reunions over the years and always cherished his friendships and memories of this time in his life. In 1952, the Department of the Army sent him to the U.S. Navy School of Music in Washington, D.C., where he completed a course of instruction and earned the title of Army Bandsman. He was discharged from the Army on Feb. 8, 1954.

While he was stationed in San Antonio, Jervis attended night school at San Antonio College, where he met Carmen Palacios. They were both enrolled in the humanities class taught by Dr. Margorie Walthal. They were married June 4, 1954, and were soulmates for 63 1/2 years. After their wedding, they lived in Denton, and Jervis resumed work on his degree. He graduated in May 1955 and earned a Bachelor of Music degree in music education. In the fall of 1955, he enrolled at the University of Illinois, Urbana, and he completed his coursework toward his Master of Music in flute performance in June 1957. During this time, Jervis worked part-time as a band director/band-choral director for two area schools. In 1957, he was hired by the University of Texas as an instructor of music teaching flute and music theory until 1960. During this time, he also played piccolo in the Austin, Texas, Symphony.

From 1960 to 1971, he was an assistant professor of music at Southeast Missouri State College, where he taught woodwinds and music theory and directed the campus school band. Jervis took a leave of absence from Southeast Missouri State College to begin work on his doctoral degree at North State University, Denton. In the summer of 1969, Jervis and Carmen went to Paris to do research on the life of French composer Jacques Christophe Naudot, whose works were the subject of his dissertation. Jervis completed his coursework and dissertation and on June 3, 1970, he received his Ph.D., with a major in music theory. He subsequently returned to his position at Southeast.

In September 1971, Jervis was hired as an associate professor in the School of Music at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He taught flute, music history, form and analysis and also played in the Altgeld Woodwind Quintet. In 1978, he was promoted to full professor. He also served as president of the faculty senate from 1992 to 1993.

In 1964, Jervis joined the Memphis Symphony Orchestra as its principal flutist, a position he held until 1984. He appeared as a soloist with the orchestra several times, and on January 20, 1983, in honor of the anniversary of Mozart's birthday, he joined the orchestra's principal harpist, Marian Schaffer, in a performance of the composer's "Concerto for Flute and Orchestra." Robert Jennings, music critic for the Memphis Commercial Appeal, wrote, "The always graceful composition was graced even more by their performance, flawlessly integrated and with virtuoso quality singly or together."

From 1964 to 1984, Jervis balanced his career between Memphis, Tennessee, and Carbondale. During this time, he taught, composed, and reviewed work for woodwinds for "Woodwind World." On April 14, 1985, the New American Woodwind Quintet, SIU-Carbondale, played a concert at Carnegie Recital Hall and then followed a 12-concert tour of Holland, Belgium, Scotland, Germany, Italy and Austria.

When he was an undergraduate at North Texas State College, Jervis was initiated into Phi Mu Alpha, a men's music fraternity, in 1954. His affiliation with Phi Mu Alpha became a lifetime commitment, and he held many important positions in the fraternity, such as adviser to various collegiate chapters, province governor, chairman of the Commission on Standards, national secretary-treasurer (1982 to 1988) and national vice-president (1985-1988). He was elected national president in 1988 and served in that capacity until 1991. His service and dedication to Phi Mu Alpha led him to research and complete the 100-year history of the fraternity when he was appointed to the position of national historian. The first edition of "Phi Mu Alpha: A Centennial History" was published in 2000, revised in 2005 and reprinted in 2008. Jervis was awarded the fraternity's Robert J. Rogers Lifetime Service Award on July 18, 2009, at its national gala. He continued his affiliation with his fraternity when he retired from SIU, and he joined the Dallas/Fort Worth Area Alumni Association.

His retirement in 1996 led him to dedicate many hours to community service for the city of Oak Point, Texas. He served on the planning and zoning commission and the economic development committee and as mayor from 2000 to 2001. He was also the city's representative for the Upper Trinity Water District.

He was invited to join the Denton Poets' Assembly and became an award-winning poet. His collection of poems, "Collected Poems From Here and There," was published in 2014 and features a watercolor painting by his wife, Carmen, on the cover. He also has collaborated with Carmen with her paintings and his poems for Merging Visions: A Collaborative Exhibit of Art and Poetry, sponsored by the Denton Poets' Assembly and the Visual Arts Society of Texas.

He became a member of the Denton branch of the International Dickens Association when his friend Don J. Vann invited him to join. He devoted many hours to reading the works of Charles Dickens, one of his favorite authors, and contributing to the Denton branch's monthly programs. An avid reader, he belonged to several book clubs and enjoyed the members' friendship and their literary selections. Truly, he was a Renaissance man whose many talents and contributions will live on for his family and his friends.

He is survived by his wife, Carmen Underwood of Oak Point, Texas; daughters, Cynthia Ellen Martin of Carmi, Illinois, and Ana Corey of Little Elm, Texas; sisters Sue (Frank) Maxwell of Greenwood, Texas, Mary Whisenant (Dave Barksdale) of Decatur, Texas, and Laura (Michael) Hensley of Mississippi; brother-in-law L.W. Mann of Bridgeport, Texas; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; stepfather, Ross Schleigh; son, Michael Edgar Underwood; son-in-law, Paul Corey; sister Patsy Mann; brother-in-law Tom Whisenant; and infant granddaughter Kara Michelle Martin.

A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday at DeBerry Funeral Home, 2025 W. University, Denton.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Phi Mu Alpha, 10600 Old State Road, Evansville, IN, in his memory, or to a charity of one's choice.