Charles L. Emmons was a member of the music faculty from 1957-1982. During this time, he was the Director of Marching Mizzou, Director of the University Philharmonic, violist with the University String Quartet, and Chair of the Music Department. Charles and his wife, Leah Lou, established the endowment in 1989 to provide an award to an outstanding member of Marching Mizzou at the annual Honors Convocation each spring.