Earl Vincent Moore  (1890-1987)

Earl V. Moore was born in Lansing on September 27, 1890.  He graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelors of Art degree from LSA in 1912 and a Masters of Art degree in organ performance in 1916.  From 1913-14, Moore served as director of the Ann Arbor High School Men's Glee Club.  In 1914, he composed the fight song (Push On!) and alma mater (The Purple and White) for Ann Arbor High School.  The words for The Purple and White were written by Margaret Cooley.

In 1914, Moore was appointed as head of the organ department, later serving as director, then dean of the school of music from 1923 until his retirement in 1960.  On March 12, 1975, the new school of music building at the University of Michigan was named after him.  The Earl V. Moore Building houses the performance, education, & scholarship departments.  Inside the Moore Building is the Blanche Anderson Moore Organ Recital Hall, named after his wife.

Moore was a co-composer of the "Varsity" football march, written with J. Fred Lawton (class of 1911).  Lawton wrote the lyrics when he and Moore were students at the University of Michigan.

Earl V. Moore died on December 29, 1987.

UM Name Stories Project - Earl V. Moore Building

Earl V. Moore Papers - UM Library

Push On!

Pioneer High School Fight Song

Music by Earl V. Moore

Push on, Ann Arbor, we’re here to stay,

Backing you all the way, Rah! Rah! Rah!

Purple for valor, White for the true,

Stand by the school that stands by you.

Push on to victory, fight all the way,

Cheer for your school today, Ann Arbor! (Yell)

Valor and truth will win any fray,

Push on to victory, Ann Arbor! (Yell)

The Purple and White

Pioneer High School Alma Mater

Music by Earl V. Moore, Words by Margaret Horton Cooley

Lo, when a king comes forth in glory,

Purple are his robes and white;

White is the sign of truth and honor,

Purple is the sign of might.

Then Hail! All Hail! To the Purple and the White.

To the grand old colors that stand for what is right.

Then Cheer! All Cheer! For the school we love so true.

And though we wander far, Ann Arbor High,

Our hearts will turn back to you.