JOHNSON CITY (Sept. 2020) – A longtime East Tennessee State University music educator received two awards during a ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 17, that he had not been able to receive earlier due to COVID-19 restrictions, but he also received a surprise honor when university officials unveiled a special honor from the Tennessee legislature.
Dr. Benjamin D. Caton III retired from the university earlier this year after serving his alma mater as a professor of piano in the Department of Music for 46 years.
Dr. Brian Noland, president of ETSU, presented a Joint Resolution by the Tennessee Senate that was sponsored by Sen. Rusty Crowe of Johnson City and Sen. Steve Southerland of Morristown in honor of Caton’s distinguished career.
Noland thanked Caton for the work he has done throughout his career that has touched the lives of others throughout the region. He noted that he and his family felt Caton’s influence daily, as his son’s piano teacher is a former student of Caton.
Noland also shared words from Crowe, who was unable to attend the ceremony: “Dr. Caton is indeed one of a kind – he has gone above and beyond what might have ever been expected as a professor of music. He has made us all proud of his work, not only at ETSU but at our state and national levels, as well. He has set the bar high for those who might come after him. I wish him a wonderful retirement.”
Also during the ceremony, Caton was presented a plaque recognizing his Professor Emeritus status by Dr. Matthew Potterton, chair of the Department of Music.
Potterton praised Caton for helping to “create a piano program that rivals any college in the nation” and for the impact he had on his students. He shared letters of congratulations and appreciation from alumni who graduated over the last four decades, noting that nearly every letter started in nearly the same way: “It’s hard to know where to begin in honoring Dr. Caton and the positive influence he had on me as a student that lasts to this day.”
Dr. Esther Park, associate professor of piano, presented Caton with the 2020 Teacher of the Year Award from the Tennessee Music Teachers Association (TMTA). This award was announced earlier in the summer during a TMTA board meeting that was held virtually.
Park expressed appreciation to Caton as a mentor, colleague and friend and also shared words of congratulations from TMTA officials. She noted that Caton had been nominated for the Teacher of the Year Award numerous times in the past, but he always declined the nomination so that younger teachers could receive honor.
After the presentations, Caton shared stories from his career, and expressed love and appreciation for the students and colleagues with whom he worked through the years.