Murray State's Tom Lough is a teacher of science teachers, an Olympian who participated in the 1968 US Team in modern pentathlon and has consulted with LEGO robotics. He can now add musical composer to his list of accomplishments, having recently premiered three songs at West Point's Class of 1964 50th Reunion. We hear about his foray into writing music today during Sounds Good.
Early Inspiration
While Tom was in West Point, he participated in the glee club and choir, which inspired his interest in music. But it wasn't until later in life, while singing in a church choir in Charlottesville in the early 80s, where he felt like he could contribute to some of the worship service with his own composition. He began studying music in his free time while working for LEGo, which led to complete works like the ones heard at West Point.
"Come Take a Walk with God"
Lough says his class lost many alumni in the Vietnam conflict and later on due to general medical and health issues. He felt the 50th reunion was the right time to honor men and women who died serving their country. He coordinated with the Champlain organizing the reunion, who was very receptive to the song. They decided to sing it before walking through the cemetery. Lough reached out to his friend Bob Balderson who had been taking professional singing lessons.
The feeling listening to a piece he had helped compose, Lough says, was amazing:
"After the service, I was approached by many classmates and several widows of classmates who had died and they told me what a meaningful piece of music it was."
Lough ends with some encouragement to anyone else seeking to cross some things off their bucket list:
"Be always curious and don't abandon your childish nature from earlier years. Just ask questions, look around and be willing and eager to learn."
