Minor D. Plumb

1916 - 1985

Minor D. Plumb, a multi-talented performer on several instruments, directed the band at Glendale Union Academy in California in the late 1940s and at Washington Missionary College, now Washington Adventist University, from 1951 to 1957. He then taught instruments and directed the band at San Pasqual Academy in California from 1957 to 1959 and at other schools until he retired.

A native of South Dakota and one of four children of Donald Donovan and Mildred Grace Williams Plumb, Plumb received scholarship offers to four universities. He graduated from the University of Nebraska with a B.F.A and completed a master's degree in clarinet performance at the University of Southern California.

In his time at WMC, he purchased uniforms for the band, organized a recorder ensemble, and enlarged the degree program to include majors in all band instruments. He played chamber music in the Musical Arts Quartet, served as an advisor to the Sligo Music Club, and enjoyed playing his instruments for evangelistic meetings.

He claimed proficiency on 37 instruments and would occasionally give public demonstrations in which he would start by playing on the tuba and end with a miniature harmonica. He was popular with the students at large at CUC, and the 1957 WMC yearbook was dedicated to him.

Plumb was living in Reinholds, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, at the time of his death at age 69.

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Sources: Biographical dedication to him, 1957 Golden Memories, Washington Missionary College yearbook; Social Security Death Index; Dorrell/Plumb/Hines/Cothrell family tree, Ancestory.com; Pacific Union Recorder, 17 May 1948, 2, and 6 March 1950, 6; General conference committee Meeting Minutes, 14 September 1950, 94; personal knowledge.