LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) – Eugene Quinn, retired director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention church music department, died March 9 as a result of injuries sustained in a fall at the KBC Evangelism Conference March 1. He was 84.
Quinn suffered a brain injury when he fell from the stage at the Evangelism Conference at Valley View Church in Louisville after singing with the Kentucky Baptist Men's Chorale. He died one week later at University of Louisville Hospital from complications related to the accident.
Quinn served more than 40 years as a denominational music leader, including nine years as director of the Illinois Baptist State Association's church music department and then nearly 32 years as director of the KBC church music department. He retired in 1988.
Jim Cordell, director of the KBC's worship/music department, said Quinn “was among the first of the state music directors,” launching many of the statewide music programs still conducted today.
Quinn was a charter member of the Kentucky Baptist Music Conference and the Southern Baptist Church Music Conference. He also was the founding director of the Kentucky Baptist Men's Chorale.
A graduate of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, Quinn was involved in volunteer missions in Japan, the Philippines and elsewhere.
He is survived by his wife, Phronsie; two daughters, Janice Quinn and Carla Quinn; two sons, Philip Quinn and Paul Quinn; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.