College awards three honorary doctorates
May 4, 2007
Conductor Patricio Cobos, former U.S. Representative George W. (Buddy) Darden and educator Judy Greer were recognized at LaGrange College’s May 19 Commencement, where each were awarded an honorary doctorate.
Cobosreceived a Doctor of Music degree during the College’s 176th graduation ceremony.
Originally from Santiago, Chile, Cobos has served as orchestra conductor and professor of violin and viola at Columbus State University since 1983.
He began his study of violin early, at the age of 5, and by age 11 he had earned a scholarship to Chile’s National Conservatory of Music. At 16, Cobos made his solo debut with the Chile Philharmonic Orchestra. He continued his studies in the United States and France before soloing under such notable conductors as Louis Lane and Richard Walter Hendl.
In 1973, he became the first violinist of the prestigious Rowe Quartet, winners of a 1978 Peabody Award, the New York Film Festival’s Silver Medal Award, and the Iris and Gabriel awards for the made-for-television film “The Rowe Quartet Plays in Your Imagination.” He was named Conductor of the Year in 2005 by the Chilean Music Critics’ Circle.
An internationally recognized performer, teacher and conductor, Cobos assumed the part-time position of music director and conductor of the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra in 2001. During his tenure with the LSO, he has strengthened the quality of the orchestra, added Family and Memorial Day concerts, and helped to shape two symphony-sponsored competitions: The Student Competitions Awards in the LaGrange Area and The Young Artist Competition.
Darden, who also is this year’s commencement speaker, received the Doctor of Laws degree.
Born in Hancock County, Darden graduated from Sparta High School in 1961 and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and his juris doctor degree from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1967.
He was a member of the Georgia General Assembly and served as district attorney of the Cobb Judicial Circuit before his election to Congress in 1983.
During his six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, Darden served on the Armed Services Committee, the Interior and Insular Affairs Committee and the House Appropriations Committee. Additionally, he was the senior Democrat of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.
Currently a partner in the legal firm of McKenna Long & Aldridge, Darden is a member of the team that represents the state of Georgia in its water allocation negotiations with Alabama and Florida.
Darden has been a member of the LaGrange College Board of Trustees since 1993, serving as chairman from 2002 until April of this year.
Greer, a LaGrange alumna, received the Doctor of Education degree.
Originally from Detroit, Greer at a young age moved to Cusseta, Ga., where she grew up excelling in athletics, once scoring 73 points in a high school basketball game.
When she enrolled at LaGrange, the College offered only intramural sports for women. Convinced there should be more women’s sports opportunities, she played an integral role in starting the intercollegiate basketball program at the College during her freshman year.
After graduating from LaGrange in 1957, Greer went on to earn a master’s from Auburn University, a second master’s from Springfield College and her doctorate from the University of Georgia.
For more than 35 years, Greer dedicated her life to teaching physical education at Oxford College of Emory University, becoming the first woman at that institution to be named a full professor.
In 1986, she received the first Fleming Award for Excellence at Oxford and in 2004 was presented the R. Carl Chandler Award for a Lifetime of Service to Oxford College.
An active LaGrange alumna, Greer currently serves as a member of the College’s Leadership Council. Her past service includes chairing the Leadership Council’s Priority Committee on Student Life and Retention Strategies, serving as a member of the Alumni Council Executive Committee and as a class coordinator for the class of 1957.
Over the years, she has earned LaGrange College’s Distinguished Service Alumni Award and has been named to both the College’s Wall of Outstanding Alumni and its Athletic Hall of Fame.
