Obituaries

Melvin C Platt Jr was born Feb 24, 1940 in Florence KY to the late Melvin C Platt and Anna Lou Worrell Platt. Melvin died Nov 7, 2025.

He attended Simon Kenton high school, Independence, KY, and played trumpet in the band. He decided on a musical career and went to the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati where he finished his Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1962 in conjunction with the University of Cincinnati, as well as the Master of Music Education in 1963.

He and Mary Milton Jennings of Nashville, TN married in 1963. For two years he was the band director in Armada, MI. In 1965, he enrolled in the University of Michigan. He and Mary moved in 1968 to Virginia. He taught graduate music education courses at the Catholic University in Washington DC while finishing his dissertation. He received his PhD degree in Music Education in 1971.

In 1972, he was hired at Kent State University and while there was elected to represent the Fine and Professional Arts in the University’s Faculty Senate in 1973. In 1977 he accepted a position at the University of Oklahoma. He was elected president of the Oklahoma Music Educators Association in 1989. He received the Governor’s Arts Award in Arts and Education in 1990. Melvin became the Director of the School of Music at the University of Missouri in Columbia in 1991. In 2009 he was asked to become Chairman of the Art Department and remained in that position until his 2015 retirement from the University.

Melvin has been active in the Rotary Club of Columbia since 1992, serving as club president, long-time scholarship committee member, District Governor, and District Representative to the Council on Legislation.

Melvin is survived by his wife and their children, Melvin C Platt III, and Carol Platt Jennings and her husband, Mark Simmons; their grandchildren, Hailey Platt Bazan (Ben); Melvin C Platt IV; Alex C Platt (Joi-Lee); Elizabeth C Platt Lemcke (Tony) and their son, Levi J Lemcke; and Melvin’s brother, Duane G Platt (Nancye).

Funeral visitation will be held at 1 pm Saturday, Nov 15, 2025 and the funeral service at 2 pm at Missouri United Methodist Church, 204 S 9th St, Columbia, MO.

A graveside service will be held on Monday, Nov 17, 2025 at 1 pm at Battle Grove Cemetery, 531 E Pike St, Cynthiana, KY.