Dr. Colbert Franklin Hackler
Jan 13, 1918 - Nov 2, 2014
Posted by Janet Laubhan Flickinger

http://www.havenbrookfuneralhome.com/

Colbert Franklin Hackler, who spent a lifetime sharing the beauty of music with thousands of students, died November 2 in Norman, Oklahoma.  He was 96.

Colbert was born January 13, 1918 in Mannsville, Oklahoma to Eva Lou (Colbert) Hackler and Charles Hackler.

Colbert graduated from Ringling High School, Ringling, Oklahoma in 1935 and received his B.F.A. from Oklahoma City University and his Masters of Music Ed. and Ph.D. of Music Ed. from the University of Oklahoma.  He was the director of Vocal and Instrumental Music of Elk City Public Schools in Elk City, Oklahoma from 1943-1960.  During these 17 years, Colbert’s band achieved 14 consecutive years of superiors at the state contests.  This was a state record for Class B school bands at that time.  Elk City celebrated “Colbert Hackler Day” on December 19, 1951, to honor Colbert for his “service and Christian influence to thousands of Elk City youth.”  He was given a new 1952 Chevrolet car.  He was similarly honored in December 1954 and given a new 1955 Plymouth.  Colbert also directed the choir at Elk City United Methodist church with his wife, Mary Jean, as his favorite accompanist on the organ. He enjoyed directing Sweet Adeline’s and Barbershop quartet groups.  While in Elk City, Colbert also was active in the Kiwanis Club and taught a Sunday school class.  
From 1960-1972, Colbert was the director of Vocal and Instrumental Music at the University of Oklahoma Laboratory School, Norman, Oklahoma.  After the Laboratory School closed, he moved to OU’s main campus teaching music appreciation and advising music education majors.  From 1983 to 1990, Colbert was the conductor of the annual Festival Strings.  When Colbert retired from the university in 1982, he began teaching violin students the Suzuki method of playing in his home.  His students ranged from 3 ½ years old to a retired Air Force general.  In addition to a yearly spring recital, Colbert took his adult groups “on the road,” providing musical entertainment in assisted living and veteran centers and nursing homes in the area several times a year for many years.  Colbert put a lot of time and energy in planning and preparing for these “gigs” as he called them.  His younger students performed for several years at the Norman Assistance League annual May Fair.  He retired from teaching at the age of 93 but still played the violin with his students at his 96th birthday party.
Colbert received many honors during his lifetime, including being inducted into the Halls of Fame of the Oklahoma Bandmasters, Oklahoma Music Educators and Elk City Alumni Associations.  He is past president of the American School Band Directors Association, American String Teachers Association and Oklahoma Music Educators Association.  In 1976, he was one of three faculty members presented the AMOCO Foundation Good Teaching Award for excellence in undergraduate teaching.  Colbert also received the Rotary Four Way Test Citizenship Award in 1998 and the Oklahoma City University Distinguished Alumni Award in 1989.  In 2010, he was inducted into the Chickasaw Nation Hall of Fame.  He volunteered for Meals on Wheels for 10 years and greeted churchgoers at McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church for 15 years.  

Colbert was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved wife, Mary Jean (Johnson)

Survivors include his daughters Sally Rice and husband Steve, Mary Anne Tullius and husband Jake, all of Norman; brother Harold Hackler and wife Elizabeth of Duncan; grandchildren Adrienne Barnes and husband David, of Broken Arrow; Jay Bratton and wife Amanda, of Kathmandu, Nepal; Trevor Tullius of Washington, D.C., Matt Tullius and Sam Tullius, both of Norman and six great grandchildren, Jack and Sam Barnes, Anna, Justice, Liyla and Asher Bratton.

Colbert appreciated his many friends and students who visited and sent him cards, letters and brought him food in his later years and his Adult Bible class at McFarlin Methodist Church for their continued cares and concerns. 

The family wishes to thank all the caregivers, doctors and nurses that helped with Colbert’s care—all the helpers at The Gardens and all those with Angelic Family Hospice.  

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM, Thursday, November 13, at McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church in Norman.