Mo was from Tulsa and was a current and recent Int'l champ with the 1958 Gaynotes when Eddie and Kent were starting to attend chapter meetings with their dads.  Kent was about 14 and Eddie about 11.  They looked up to Mo and admired him ... he was their barbershop hero and inspiration.

Later they both had the honor of singing with him (along with Ronnie Beck) in a top competition and fine show quartet, Second Generation. They all became extremely close ... more than just friends.

Thru the years Mo was always there to lend support, advice and great memories.

MO was so PROUD to learn that Cooligans recently won the SWD Championship and dedicated his efforts to helping them "BE" champions.  As always, Mo was excited about the potential and promised the Cooligans several custom "MO" arrangements.

He finished several new arrangements just for the boys and mailed them just before leaving his home in New Braunfels for a trip to San Antonio.  He put them in the mail on the way out of town.  It was during his return trip home the next day Mo died in a one car  accident.

Mo had a special relationship with Kent, Eddie, the Tulsa #1 Chapter and with Cooligans.  As Kent says, "We loved him for being "MO"... what else can be said."





December 8, 2003
Remembering Mo Rector
by Grady Kerr - SWD Roundup Editor

Sadly I must report that the great Mo Rector is gone.  Mo died in an automobile accident December 6, 2003 around 3 AM.  He was returning home to New Braunfels following an Alamo Metro chapter Christmas party in San Antonio.  The car left the roadway and he was ejected and died instantly. Mo's vision had been affected by cataract surgery and diabetes. It's believed he missed a turn and was not wearing a seat belt.
 
Mo Rector was a bass and the first double gold medallist.  He won with the Gaynotes in 1958 and the Mark IV in 1969.  Among his many talents he was an outstanding arranger, coach, writer, woodshedder, quartet man, idea man and Barbershop Icon.
 
He is survived by his sister, two sons and a daughter. Mo was 69 years old and joined the Society in 1947.
 
As of this writing there are two memorial services being planned, one in Tulsa and one in San Antonio. More details will be sent via SWDNet but here's what we have so far.
 
San Antonio
Thursday, December 11, 2003 at 1:00 PM.
Wayside Chapel 1705 NW Loop 410 (between Blanco and Honeysuckle)
San Antonio, Texas 78213 (210) 344-1203

Tulsa
Monday, December 15, 2003 at 4:00 P.M.
Calvary Temple, 4701 West Edison
Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74149 (918) 587-9431
 

In lieu of flowers the family suggest a donation to The Mo Rector Memorial Fund recently set up by his family. More details on this endowment will distributed soon or you can contact Mark Rector, Mo's oldest son, for more information.

Mo Rector Memorial Fund
c/o Mark Rector
3232 South Erie Ave.
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74135

Also, you are encouraged to send your stories, thoughts and memories of Mo to his family via his oldest son at miamimark72@yahoo.com
 

---

Rector
Staff Reports
12/11/2003
Tulsa World (Final Home Edition), Page A14 of Obituaries, Deaths

RECTOR -- Morris Franklin "Mo," of New Braunfels, TX, passed away tragically in a car accident in San Antonio, TX early December 5, 2003. He is survived by a sister, Sammye Dietz of New Braunfels; a brother, Jerry Rector, Austin, TX; his son, Mark Franklin Rector and wife, Bettina; daughter, Janine Nichols; son, Bill Rector; and 5 grandchildren, all of Tulsa, OK. Mo was widely known, respected and loved in the music and entertainment industry, specifically the Barbershop music world. Service is scheduled December 11, 2003 at Wayside Chapel, 1705 N.W. Loop 410, San Antonio, TX beginning at 1 p.m. A second memorial will be held at Calvary Temple Assembly of God, 4701 West Edison, Tulsa, OK, December 15, 2003 at 4 p.m. The family asks that in lieu of flowers a memorial fund is being established, contact Mark Rector, 3232 South Erie Ave., Tulsa, OK 74135 for more information. Gone but not forgotten, your words and music will live on forever. We love you and will miss you, Rest in Peace.

---

Memories of Mo
by Michael Borts, President of the Quartet Champions Association

It was the Sunday morning closing session of Harmony Ranch 2001. Things were winding down from a weekend full of fantastic harmonies as they always do with everyone meeting in the auditorium to sing through and learn a new Society arrangement or two. I'm in the front teaching the parts when out of the corner of my eye I see Mo enter the front of the auditorium with a HUGE pile of music. I can tell he wants to get my attention somehow, so I tell the group to read over the music on their own for a minute as I go to see what Mo wanted.

click here for the rest of this article