Trinity Remembers John H. Moore III ’60

John H. Moore III ’60, Ed.D., professor emeritus of education, died on June 7, leaving a legacy of extraordinary impact on education in Texas and beyond. He was 87.

A proud graduate of Trinity University’s Class of 1960, John went on to earn his master’s degree from Southern Methodist University and his Doctor of Education from Baylor University. He began his career in 1961 as a teacher in Victoria, Texas, and worked in Victoria public schools for seven years. John returned to his alma mater in 1968 to begin a transformative 33-year tenure as an education professor, including being named the Norine R. Murchison Distinguished Professor of Education. He served as department chair for nearly three decades, from 1973-2001.

John launched some of Trinity’s most enduring programs, including Trinity’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program, the first of its kind in Texas, which quickly became a nationally acclaimed program and state leader in exceptional teacher preparation. He further elevated the teaching enterprise in Bexar County and beyond by creating the Trinity Tomorrow's Leaders educational leadership program, the Center for Educational Leadership and the Trinity Prize for Excellence in Teaching, and the Brackenridge Interns in Teaching program.

Truly, John’s passion for public education extended well beyond campus, as his scholarship and leadership were international in scope. As early as the 1980s, John led student delegations to China and Japan and gave lectures across Asia on comparative education. He played an instrumental role in launching and supporting innovative schools in San Antonio, including the International School of the Americas in partnership with the North East Independent School District.

John was a vocal leader in education reform, focused on the recruitment, preparation, and retention of future teachers and school leaders. He co-edited two influential publications on school reform and directed the Alliance for Better Schools. He served as president of both the Texas Association of Colleges for Teacher Education and the San Antonio Teacher Education Advisory Center. He and Thomas Sergiovanni, Ph.D., the Lillian Radford Professor of Education and Administration from 1985-2009, led educational innovation in San Antonio that became a model for the state and nation.

Among his many honors, John received the Z.T. Scott Faculty Fellowship in 1989, the Imagineer Award from the Mind Science Foundation in 1992, and the Ford Salute to Education in 1995. In 2002, he was named the inaugural recipient of the Spirit of Trinity Award, presented to alumni who exemplify exceptional service to the University and the greater community.

In retirement, John found joy in the outdoors of Sedona, Arizona. He is survived by his wife, Suzanne, who lovingly called the area his “outdoor classroom.” There, he became a “Friend of the Forest” in the Coconino National Forest and served on the Trail Patrol Committee. He volunteered at Montezuma Castle National Monument and led bird walks every Saturday at Red Rock State Park.

John was a devoted member of The Church of the Red Rocks, where he distinguished himself as church moderator, chaired the Friends of Music Committee, and sang in the choir alongside Suzanne, the church’s organist. Together, they served as the sole benefactors of the Sedona Academy of Chamber Singers, the church’s choir-in-residence, and established and funded a choral-music internship program that continues to cultivate emerging choral artists in partnership with the Northern Arizona University Kitt School of Music.

True to his lifelong role as an educator and mentor, John kept a journal of the former students and colleagues who visited him in Sedona—a list that had grown well over 80 names long. These students reflected the qualities John admired most, but he knew many would not have had the opportunity to attend Trinity without financial support. John and Suzanne were tireless supporters of the longest-running endowed scholarship at Trinity: the Moore Family Education Scholarship. Started by John’s grandparents in 1915 and augmented by three generations of Moores, the fund has supported hundreds of Trinity students pursuing their dream of becoming educators and leaders in the field.

A memorial service is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Sunday, August 10, at The Church of the Red Rocks in Sedona, Arizona. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Moore Family Education Scholarship Fund online or via check to Trinity University, 1 Trinity Place #49, San Antonio, TX 78212, with “Moore Family Education Scholarship Fund” in the memo line.