[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 21, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1009]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  A TRIBUTE TO MINNIE IVERSON WOOD, STILL TEACHING MUSIC ON HER 95TH 
                                BIRTHDAY

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                            HON. JERRY LEWIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 20, 2003

  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like today to join the 
people of Loma Linda, California, in singing the praises of Minnie 
Iverson Wood, who has been teaching music and directing choirs for more 
than 75 years--and plans to continue teaching students after her 95th 
birthday on May 26th.
  This remarkable teacher and musician got her start in music at Pine 
Tree Academy in her native Maine, and continued her education in voice 
and foreign languages at Columbia Union College in Takoma Park, 
Maryland and Catholic University of America. She took lessons in voice, 
choir conducting and piano in the United States, Europe and the Far 
East.
  With her husband, Dr. Wilton Wood, Mrs. Wood went to China, where she 
taught at Far Eastern Academy in Shanghai and Hong Kong. She has taught 
music and conducted choirs at the Baltic Union Seminary in Riga, 
Latvia; the Malayan Seminary in Singapore; and the Philippine Union 
College. Back in the United States, she taught at Columbia Union 
College for 10 years and at Andrews University in Michigan for 16 
years.
  Mrs. Wood has conducted choirs around the world, and organized major 
musical events such as Handel's Messiah and Brahms' Requiem. She 
personally sang for President Truman, and her choirs performed for 
Presidents Eisenhower and Nixon. Her choral groups also sang a yearly 
memorial service at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, 
Virginia.
  Many of Mrs. Wood's musical groups have performed live on radio 
programs, including an a cappella choral group from Columbia Union 
College that gave weekly Sunday performances. She also organized the 
choir music for the Seventh-Day Adventist Church General Conference 
Session in Cleveland in 1958.
  In addition to her long career as a music teacher, Mrs. Wood was a 
grade school teacher for 11 years. Her use of phonics helped her first 
grade class to be able to read at least one grade level above average 
by the end of each school year. The method was so successful she was 
asked to train other teachers in its use.
  Mr. Speaker, as she reaches her 95th year, Minnie Iverson Woods 
continues to teach and mentor several dozen private students, and to be 
active on the Sabbath School Music Committee. Her students from 75 
years of teaching will gather this week in a special Vespers concert to 
honor this wonderful teacher. Please join me in thanking her for a 
lifetime of making a joyful noise, and wishing her well in the years to 
come.

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