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"They Call Me M. O"
by Cynthia L. HornAlthough he was named Martin Orville Johnson, he says he just goes by the initials
M.O. because of an incident at William Chrisman High School in 1958.
"One day after school, I was in my room getting ready for the next day when some youngsters came into my room having fun and joshing back and forth. I thought they were going to play their horns so I said, ‘Let me join your fun. I would like to laugh, too. One asked, ‘Could we call you M.O.?' I was taken aback. I said, "Yes, gladly providing you do one thing. If you do the things I ask you to do in class, I'll be glad to be called M.O.
"But you know, the thing that interested me was that within a week, everybody knew me as M.O., teachers and other students in school knew me as M.O. No one called me Johnson from then on. Someone had that planned. They really had gone to work on this."
He was born in Kansas City in 1912 and lived in the western part of Westport until his father bought a larger home in Fairmount. He loved the town (K.C.) and saw it grow up. He went to Van Horn Elementary School, then to junior high at Westport High School at 37th and Wyoming.
"At that time, the 8th and 9th grades were combined and the junior high school building was just completed the first year I entered it. I remember we were in a beautiful building, seven stories tall. Afterwards, I wondered how could they build a school seven stories tall? There wasn't even an elevator. One day, while we were having class, they put in blackboards to finish building the school. Then, I went to Westport High School right across the street and I graduated in 1929. Westport was a fine high school in those days -- one of the best of three high schools in Kansas City."
Music was always his special interest. He played the trombone in junior high and high school, but he started playing piano when he was nine years old.
"When I was a senior, I was in an excellent orchestra at Westport. John Phillip Sousa, director of the Marine Band, was invited to our high school. He directed us, then dropped his arm down and let us continue playing." This was not his first thrill, though. "When I was 14, I rode the streetcar to the dedication of the Liberty Memorial in 1926. "I stood right on the sidewalk next to the Queen from Hungary."
After high school he went to the Horner Conservatory in Kansas City, where he majored in piano and did some voice work. The Crash of 1929 brought changes, however, but M.O. says he feels fortunate when he looks back on it.
"Our teachers thought it would be a good idea if those of us who were involved in voice work, piano, or strings could tie our music to something else. So we joined up with the Kansas City Philharmonic, where they taught us all the woodwinds, strings, and brass." He ended up with two degrees in music from the Conservatory and his Master's degree from K.U. He later received his doctorate from in Music Education from Greeley (CO) College in 1961.
His teaching career began in Kansas in 1934 and he taught in several small towns until going to Pittsburg for five years. "I had a good time because Pittsburg was a college town. Besides the principal and superintendent, I was the only person who had a Master's degree in Marysville, KS (his previous school). By the time I got to Pittsburg, everyone had a Master's degree because of the college in that town. Pittsburg had lots of good space to play in, a good music room, and lots of good singers and players."
One day he had a visit from a man "I didn't know from Adam, who came to his music room to visit and listen to his band, orchestra, and choir. What M.O. didn't realize is that the visitor had been sent by Dr. L.G. Keith, superintendent of schools in Independence, to observe him.
"About Wednesday or Thursday the next week I got a letter from Dr. Keith inviting me to come to members, but he never once took me to the senior high to show many any music facility, because they didn't have any. And that's how I came to land up in Independence."
He had to give up the great music facilities in Pittsburg when he came to Independence. "I didn't have a thing – absolutely nothing. I had no band room, except at Palmer Junior High, and that was because it was a basement room--nothing."All that changed, though, when they moved to the new school in 1958. He got to design the music rooms at Chrisman High School and got everything he asked for.
What he loves most about his teaching career are the students. "I just think of the favoritism I got from the ability of the children, because you can't have fine results without some kids doing extra." And, he emphasized, "You are the instigator and promoter, but they are the doers."
After teaching at William Chrisman for 15 years (1934-1949), M.O. became the district's supervisor of music, a position he held for 27 years until 1976, when he retired, giving him a total of 42 years in the district. He moved to Raymore in 1982, where he now lives at Fox Ridge Springs Retirement Community/Assisted Living Center, where the music didn't stop.
"I have directed the choir at Fox Ridge Springs for 23 years," he said. "I had many adults who come by and lovingly say, ‘Gee, you really worked us hard today.' I guess it's a habit. At one time we had 52 members in our mixed chorus. We still do today. We give four concerts a year."
Throughout the years he combined his talents through school and church. He was choir director of the First Christian Church for 26 years. "My parents were really conscientious churchgoers and church workers. I had to decided whether I was going to do church or schoolwork."
Now 98 years old, he reflects on the highlights of his life and career. He remembers directing the orchestra when the Liberty Bell was given to the city from France on Nov. 6, 1950. He also was president of the Missouri State Teachers Assn. in 1959 and Independence Retired Teachers Assn. (now IRSPA) president in 1981. And, the plaques which adorn a wall of his apartment speak volumes of his many accomplishments as a musician, educator, and church choir director.
These accolades don't stop with the plaques. Phil Dunham, his successor, had nothing but praise for M.O. "Dr. Johnson was an excellent administrator who had vision and ideas for the music department in the Independence Public Schools. He was always willing to share ideas and encourage all of his music teachers to do their best. I always, and still do, admire him greatly."
This admiration continues at Fox Ridge Springs. As he helped this writer carry equipment -- even with his walker -- to her car, several men called out to him, "Hi, M.O. Is she taking your picture?" "Hey, M.O., what are you doing?"
So they still call him M.O.
Copied with permission of the Independence Retired School Personnel Association Newsletter, November 2009
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