Stephen C Porter
Sing'cerely. That's how Lee Roy Till signed his letters. The letter that means the most to me appears in the front page of the leather bound Bible that Lee Roy presented to me in 1964 at the end of my tenure as Chapel Choir President. The Bible is green (because I was headed to Baylor University) and in embossed gold letters are the words: Steve Porter, President, Chapel Choir 1963-64. I'm proud of that Bible. The overused expression "treasured possession" applies.
Lee Roy was a leader and a visionary. Those choir tours and events that he planned and orchestrated (no pun intended) were amazing and inspirational. And he was a genius - as a choir director, singer, musical arranger (with the possible exception of his experiment with the angklung Indonesian instruments. Some will remember...) Dealing with rebellious teenagers and cranky adults, he also found himself in the role of mediator and counselor.
But he had a greater gift. He made everyone feel special - choir members, sponsors, congregations, even strangers. He made me feel special.
At the end of the letter that he wrote to me, he said, "So many appropriate scriptures come to my mind. Read them all. I thought of you as I read them" He listed a number of verses and carefully underlined each in the pages of my green Bible.
Lee Roy signed the letter "Gratefully and sing'cerely."
I have kept that Bible close to me and yes, I still read those verses.
-Steve Porter
