BENJAMIN HUSTED graduated from Mansfield State College in 1947; received his Masters at Temple University in 1950; and his PhD at Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester in 1954. Benjamin was a professor of music at Mansfield University from 1950-1971. His music theory textbook, The Function Concept in Music Theory, was a source book for many high school and college theory programs. A two time winner of the National String Orchestra Associations Composition Contest, Dr. Husted wrote compositions for his students and various performing organizations. He was guest conductor for several district and regional choruses and also served as guest conductor for a New York State regional orchestra. After leaving Mansfield University he became an ordained minister in the American Baptist Convention and served as pastor of the First Baptist Church in Canton, PA until his retirement. Presently he is a volunteer in the high school orchestra program and churches in Fort Pierce, Florida. He feels his claim to fame comes from the work he did as a teacher at Mansfield. His greatest reward came from hearing a student say, "You were one of the best teachers I had," or, "When I took theory courses in my master's work, I found that I was better prepared than most students in my class."