Powell_Samuel Mac Clain Prof._20 Jun 1874

Musical Leader Dies at 91, Funeral Tuesday

Funeral services were held Tuesday at the Malad Presbyterian church for Professor Samuel Mac Clain Powell, 91, prominent musician of the area, who died Friday in an Ogden rest home after a long illness.

Officiating was the Reverend Gale Ludwig and services included prayer at the funeral home; prelude and postlude music, Marguerite Ruegsegger; call to worship; vocal, Jenkin L. Palmer; invocation; obituary and remarks, G. L. Jenkins; reading from the Psalter; vocal, Margaret Boam and Jeanne Jenkins; New Testament reading; sermon; prayer; vocal, “The Lord’s Prayer” arranged by Prof. Powell, Jenkin L. Palmer; benediction.

Accompanist was Myra Jean John.

Committal service was at the Malad City Cemetery. Flowers were carried by the United Presbyterian Women and casket bearers were Roger Forsberg, Theodore Forsberg, Frank Harrison, Alvin Vanderwood, Evan Vanderwood and Jon Vanderwood.

Professor Powell was born June 20, 1874 at Mtn. Ash, Glamorganshire, South Wales, a son of John and Mary Sims Powell.

He was a member of the First United Presbyterian Church.

When the professor was 17, he started teaching choral techniques in South Wales, and won prizes throughout South Wales and England. He was a Fellow of the Tonic Sol Fa College in London. He received his degree as a teacher at the Trinity College of Music, a chartered college in England.

He specialized in composition. One composition, “Baby Lou” was sung before King George V Windsor Castle, in 1922.

He came to the United States in 1908 and maintained a music studio in his Malad City home and taught vocal and piano. He was the director of The Apollo Club in 1918. He also taught music in Twin Falls, in 1913 and 1920.

Professor and Mrs. Powell sponsored a tour throughout the eastern United States for the famous Rhonda Valley Welsh Choir, and gave performances in the Salt Lake Tabernacle in 1925.

Survivors include his widow of Malad City, and one daughter, Mrs. C. Frank (Ida) Hall of Ogden, Utah; three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.