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KIRKSVILLE, MO --
The Kirksville community paid tribute to a longtime educator who shared his love for music with thousands of students over the years.
    
A memorial service was held for John Schwarz Saturday afternoon at the Kirksville High School.
    
The former Kirksville High School band director passed away on June 12 in England where he was visiting family.
    
Many of Schwarz's students attended the service, including Brad Hudson, who says Mr. Schwarz influenced him to become a band director.

“Mr. Schwarz was a huge influence to me and one of the ways he inspired us in music was to put everybody in a community, and the band was very close and it was something everybody could be a part of,” said Brad Hudson, KHS Director of Bands.

Schwarz was involved with the Kirksville band for 30 years before retiring in 2007.
    
A trumpet quartet played in his honor at the service.
    
Schwarz was 66 years old.
    
Memorials may be made to the John Schwarz Scholarship Fund, Kirksville R-3 Business Office, 1901 E. Hamilton, Kirksville, MO 63501.