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WESLEY THOMAS JR. BORN OCTOBER 26, 1927 - DIED JULY 3, 2008 Wesley Thomas Selby, Jr. was born to widow Carrie McAbee Selby in Salisbury, MD. He was raised in Crisfield, MD by an aunt, Ida Selby Somers, along with Wesley's cousin, Clyde Covington, and his wife, Beatrice. Their daughter, Peggy Ann was much like a sister to Wesley, as they grew up together. Childhood on Chesapeake Bay was colorful and blessed with lots of soft crabs, sea trout, oysters, whitefish, and ducks, which their waterman neighbor traded Ida for vegetables. On Sundays, they went to Aunt Kate's. She had a parlor organ and they sang hymns. He began his organ music career playing for Sunday services at the young age of nine, in the hometown church, Mt. Pleasant. Graduating early from Crisfield High School in 1944, he started college in Salisbury, MD, then headed west and enlisted in the Army in 1946. While stationed at Camp Carson Colorado Springs, CO, he met and married Betty Jean Taylor, (died June 23, 1995). They moved to Albuquerque in 1947, and raised four children, Peggy Sue, Thomas, Laurie, and Wesley Mark. While working at St. John's Episcopal Cathedral as organist/director of the adult choir and St. Cecelia girl's choir, he taught piano and earned Masters of Music at UNM in 1952, and CU in 1957. In 1959, the family moved to Denver, where Wesley was minister of music at Montview Presbyterian Church and taught at CU in Boulder for four years. At Montview, he played for a standing room only service, of over 1,000 people for guest minister Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., conducted a rarely performed concert of Benjamin Brittan's War Requiem, and created a summer choir camp for children at Estes Park, CO. After returning to Albuquerque, he was organist and choir director at St. Paul's Lutheran Church (where he designed and built the organ) and St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church. For many Albuquerque churches, he played services, weddings, funerals, and created special musical events during Holidays. At UNM from 1964-1988, he taught organ, music theory, composition, conducting, inaugurated the Keller Hall organ, and organized a Bachathon. For a decade, under contract to Wicks organ manufacturing, he designed and built many pipe organs, overseeing their installation and tuning, often giving the dedication concerts. He was very active with the American Guild of Organists, chairing the Albuquerque Guild for many years. He traveled to East Germany in 1985, touring the homes of Bach and Mozart and playing some of the region's historic organs. His slide presentations and organ concerts upon his return showcased his enthusiastic study of music. He built a harpsichord, which he donated to UNM's music department and a small practice pipe organ for his home. Wesley loved skiing, tennis, and was a huge fan of the UNM Lobos. He is survived by his second wife, Connie Selby; his children, Peggy Loftfield, Thomas Selby, Laurie Stanton, Wesley Mark Selby; eight grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, Peggy Ann Howard, and Paula Jones. He was a caring, devoted father who enriched all our lives with his beautiful music and wit. There will be a Memorial Recital in early November, to be announced at a later date.
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