By Joe Hadsall

jhadsall@joplinglobe.com

Matthew Holt started his career with the Webb City R-7 School District in 1977.

Holt served as the junior-high band director, director of two junior-high choirs, a fifth-grade beginning band director, assistant high-school band director, assistant high-school choir director, and sponsor of the high-school flag team — all within his first three years.

“School was pretty busy back then,” Holt said.

Since those first days, Superintendent Ron Lankford said Holt has grown the high school’s choir into an outstanding program.

“Our choir program is a phenomenal success,” Lankford said. “He is a classic example of what happens when you have a quality person who gets kids to believe they can do what they want if they work for it.”

Holt, 53, has decided to retire at the end of this school year, ending a 30-year tenure with the Webb City district. He said that he made his decision because of family reasons and because “it is time.”

“There comes, in each person’s life, an inner feeling that it is time,” Holt said. “It also coordinates well with my family.”

Holt graduated from Webb City in 1972 at the top of his class. He earned a bachelor’s degree in music from Missouri Southern State University.

Falling back on his musical abilities, he attended the University of North Texas, where he earned a master’s degree in choral music education.

Holt taught in the Jasper R-5 School District for a year before starting in Webb City. He has taught the high-school choir exclusively for the last 12 years.

David Carnine, a 2004 graduate of Webb City High School, had Holt as a teacher. Carnine said that Holt’s positive attitude made him popular with students.

“He was one of those teachers who everyone wishes they could have,” Carnine said. “He was always really positive. Just an overall great guy.”

Now a music performance major at MSSU, Carnine said Holt helped snap him out of a shell of shyness.