TOLEDO, Ohio — Since 1984, Toledoan and musician, David Jex, has been making music on the University of Toledo's campus.
Jex began his time with UToledo as a student. He said that he initially moved away for a few years before returning to teach.
"Four decades, thanks for that. It's been great. It certainly has been a rollercoaster," Jex said.
During his journey as a professor, he said that he appreciated being able to share his knowledge and watching his students grow.
"They made the journey as you say. They keep you young, they keep challenging you and I'm going to miss seeing them," Jex said. "I'll come in and visit sometimes."
Three of his previous students said that he had a deep impact on their careers as musicians and that without him, they don't know where the program would be. Jex's impact can be seen in both current and former students.
Elliott Nickeson, a former student, now works at the university. He said that the retirement announcement came as a shock to anyone who had him as a professor.
"A real testament to him is that as soon as the announcement came out, I had probably 30 text messages from fellow students that I was in class with saying 'I can't believe it, I thought he was going to be there forever, what are they going to do without him?'"
Current student Thomus Maples said that Jex has had a significant impact on his musical career.
"He was the first person I learned music theory from ever. It was really nice to be in those classrooms with him and just enjoy his energy and his passion for music," Maples said "I think we all thought that we had gone to like a different dimension because there's other teachers retiring and it just did not feel real. It did not at all."
Mary Olnhausen, a recent graduate, said she doesn't know where she'd be without him as she moves into graduate school.
"I definitely have no idea how I'm going to still be a student here without Dr. Jex here," Olnhausen said.
Jex said Wednesday that there was no way for him to pick a favorite memory from his career. He said he appreciates the university and his students, and the opportunities he had to showcase his music.
"I'm going to continue to be a musician. I'm going to stay in town," Jex said. "I'm writing a new ballet score for Nigel Bergoin at the Ballet Theatre of Toledo."