Matt Betton, Jazz Executive, Dies At 89

Matt Betton, executive director emeritus of the International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE) died of cancer, November 3 at the Hospice Care Center in Loveland, CO. He was 89.

Betton, founding executive director of the National Association of Jazz Educators (later renamed the International Association for Jazz Education), is credited with building the organization during its first 20 years and establishing its reputation as the primary voice and leading authority for jazz education worldwide. Today, the Manhattan-based IAJE has upwards of 8,000 members in 42 countries.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Betty Betton, Manhattan; a sister, Sue Shurtz, Kansas City, KS.; children, Linda Tippett, Martha Stizel and Matt Betton, Jr., five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

A memorial will be held on Jan. 11. 2003 at the IAJE International Conference in Toronto. IAJE and the Kansas State University Foundation, of where he is a graduate of, is planning a memorial celebration in Spring 2003 at the KSU Alumni Center in Manhattan.

Memorial contributions can be made to the IAJE Matt Betton Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 724, Manhattan, KS 66505, or to the KSU Foundation Matt Betton Scholarship Fund, 2323 Anderson Road, Suite 500, Manhattan, KS. 66503.

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