Louis Nabors, well known for his low, resonating voice emblazoned himself into the hearts and minds of students and faculty at ULM. The memory of him, much like his authoritative voice, lingers still.

Nabors worked as a professor at ULM for 40 years.

He was known for his deep voice and passion for music.

He was considered a local legend who taught and performed across the world.

Nabors, 69, passed away in Italy on July 30.  He touched the hearts of many students and was an integral member of the ULM family.

Calvin Stafford, a graduate student, was intimidated the first time he met Nabors.

“He recruited me to sing for the organization. He seemed really scary. He was a really big man with a huge voice,” said Stafford. “But he was such a great guy that he ended up being a very personal friend of mine.”

Stafford felt like Nabors was someone that he could depend on. He would spend countless hours in Nabors’ office ranting and talking.

“He taught me so much more than music. He taught me how to be a man,” said Stafford.

Stafford’s experiences with Nabors helped shape his life, as Nabors’ influenced many other music students.

“He’s left such a huge impression on the college. I’ve never met someone who could make you feel so loved while they were chastising you,” Stafford said.

At his funeral, Stafford told Bruno that African American students face unique challenges.

And having an African American male role model to look up to as a professional role model is really important for him.

Nabors took control of a student led gospel choir in the 60s. He changed the group from strictly gospels to a wider range of African-American music.

Nabors included African American operas and Broadway plays.

“When you think about opera you don’t really think about African Americans, but that’s what Professor Nabors did,” said Stafford. “To have that role model there it meant so much to students. I think that’s why so many students came to his funeral. There were more than 100 singers there and I have never met a student who had anything but the upmost respect for him.”

Last year, composer Stacey Gibbs wrote a piece for the group. During,, he met Nabors and they became fast friends.

“Stacey Gibbs is writing a piece in Nabors’ honor and I find that really cool. This man whose music is heard throughout the world took the time to write a piece immortalizing our professor,” Stafford said.

Nabors has left behind a legacy in the form of the Interdenominational Ensemble.

The group is an on campus-choral group that sings a variety of musical styles including gospel, spirituals and African-American Broadway.

IDE continues to function, even after their adviser’s passing under the temporary direction of Lawrence Smith, a former high school director who obtained his masters from Alabama State University.

Armand Wilson, president of IDE and a vocal music education major, feels that the future is bright for the IDE.

“IDE is a family and he was the patriarch. Everyone is adjusting though and everything will be great again. We’re really looking forward to this semester,” Wilson said.

Wilson hopes to see many people at their concert in November and see the IDE still striving for greatness.