A native of

Tyler, Tex., Corse earned the following four degrees from North Texas

State University: his Bachelor of Music in music education (1962), his

Master of Music in music theory (1963), his Master of Arts in English

(1970), and his Ph.D in English Renaissance (1972).

Corse entered

academia as choir director at Randolph High School, located on Texas'

Randolph Air Force Base (1963-1967). Next, he taught both choir and English

at Bailey Junior High, part of an Independent School District in Arlington,

Tx. (1967-1969). Just prior to teaching at Clayton State, Corse served

as a Teaching Fellow, instructing freshman English at his NTSU alma mater

(1969-1972).

In Sept. 1972,

Corse joined the faculty of Clayton State (then Clayton Junior College)

as a professor of English. Now, in 2003 on the cusp of his retirement,

Corse teaches freshman English and the University's online theater appreciation

course.

Though Corse

will be remembered for his teaching, his contributions to Clayton State

Theater will be his lasting legacy. For 31 theater seasons, Corse has

been committed to both student actors/actresses and aspiring playwrights.

Time and time again, Corse has opened the stage to premiere new works

of theater, including the musical "The Day it Rained Forever,"

and the play "Your Name in Bold," by Clayton State Biology Professor

Dr. Greg Hampikian. In total, Clayton State Theater has premiered 34 new

works.

The last show

Corse directed, Christopher Durang's parody "For Whom the Southern

Belle Tolls," part of the larger production "Short, Short, Really

Short Redux," marked show number 216, and closing night marked the

1,009th performance on the Clayton State stage under Corse's direction.

To keep the

theater going strong after his retirement, Corse has promised $200 to

the best overall actor and actress of each theater season, and a $1,000

prize each year for 10 years for playwriting. For more information on

either of these cash awards, call the Clayton State School of Arts and

Sciences at 770-961-3420.

Corse enjoys

composing music, and has worked with former Clayton State student Brad

Fairchild and local playwright Andy Ditzler to compose pieces for the

Spivey Educational Series. Corse has also written a number of stage works

including a three-act opera "Frederick Hohenzollern," written

in collaboration with Fairchild.

Corse's original

poetry has been read at Clayton State events including the Fall Frolics

and Clayton State Theater's "Love Cabaret." Corse's poem "Seven

Goldfish" can be read online at https://a-s.clayton.edu/poetryjam/poems/crse7.html>.

He is also credited with writing the University's alma mater, which is

still sung at Clayton State graduations today.

So will Corse

continue to be involved in Clayton State Theater?

"Retirement

means to me retirement," said Corse. "But if the new director

has a project that I would be interested in, I may be involved from time

to time, but for the moment I plan to travel and compose and write and

cook."