Distinguished Alumni
Patty Sue Sanders Davis
Awarded 1999
Davis earned her bachelor of music education degree in 1956 and master of arts degree in 1959 from SHSU. She has worked as an elementary, junior high and high school teacher in the Huntsville school district for 16 years, directing various choral groups and also teaching English. She also has taught elementary vocal music in the Houston school district, was a second grade teacher in the Aldine district, and taught junior high vocal music and choir in the Aldine district.
She has worked as creative director for the Huntsville Advertising Agency, has sung with the Houston Grand Opera, and was a studio voice teacher for 11 years at SHSU.
Her personal affiliations and recognition include Alpha Chi, Pi Kappa Lambda, the national Association of Teachers of Singing, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Choral Directors Association (state secretary and board of directors 1983-84, American Guild of Musical Artists, Coordinator of Music for the First United Methodist Church of Huntsville (1996-98), and Huntsville Cooperative of Women Artists Secretary (1998-99).
Her civic and humanitarian service includes the Huntsville Arts Commission (advisory member, Huntsville Community Theatre (patron and performer), First United Methodist Church Chancel Choir (member and alto soloist), director of music for Huntsville Enrichment Activities Program for productions including Heidi, Mary Poppins, Peter Pan, The King and I, Fantasticks, Oliver, South Pacific, Lil' Abner, Grease and Gypsy, soloist for the Huntsville Community Choral Society including performances of Ahmal and the Night Visitors and The Messiah, Bach Choir of Huntsville (member and alto soloist), United Way Benefit Concert (including writing, production and performance), and Huntsville Arts Commission concerts for nursing homes, schools and other community events.
Davis has received many awards for service and professional accomplishments, including Outstanding Young Women of Merica, the SHSU Music Department Outstanding Alumni Award, and held memberships and offices in Sigma Alpha Iota (president while at SHSU, chapter financial adviser as an alumnus), SHSU University Women (president), SHSU Friends of Music (patron), Raven Honorary Advisory Board of the SHSU College of Arts and Sciences, the Bearkat Club, and East Texas Children's Choral Festival (adjudicator for SHSU).
She has performed as alto soloist for churches and schools in Austin, Houston, Huntsville and surrounding cities, with SHSU choirs and orchestra, and with the Bev Henson Chorale of Houston. She was a member of the New York cast of Nixon in China and member of the original cast recording of Nixon in China for RCA.
While a member of the Houston Grand Opera she performed in Madame Butterfly, The Flying Dutchman, The Magic Flute, Eugene Onegin, La Traviata, La Boheme, Faust, Don Giovanni, Anna Bolena, Boris Gudonov, Norma, Falstaff, Turandot, Nixon in China, Aida, Andrea Chenier, Lohengrin Manon, The Marriage of Figaro, Masked Ball, New Year, The Passion of Jonathon Wade, Parsifal, Rigoletto, Rusalka, Samson and Delilah, Tannhauser, Tosca and Il Trovatore.
Her Huntsville High Chorale was awarded first division honors by the Texas University Interscholastic League every year from 1969 through 1983, with several years being awarded the Sweepstakes honor. Her Huntsville High Chorale was named "Outstanding Choir" among 49 choirs in the Astroworld Music Festival in 1975, and an honor choir for the Texas Music Educators Association in 1967, performing at the association's convention in San Antonio.
In addition, she has served as alto section leader for the Region IX choir and all-state choir, adjudicator for Interscholastic League choral, solo and ensemble contests in the Houston area from 1974-1997, adjudicator for the Houston Schools Choral Festival in 1978, and clinician for the Galveston Junior High Region Choir in 1978.
Davis' husband, Thomas F. Davis, professor of mathematics at SHSU, also received a Distinguished Alumni Award in 1996.
As profiled at the October 15, 1999 Distinguished Alumni Banquet