The University of Missouri, School of Music community mourns the loss of Carl E. Bolte, an accomplished composer and lyricist who has written two dozen plays and musicals. People who knew Bolte well speak about his enthusiasm for the University of Missouri and the Marching Mizzou (although he campaigned to have the name of the ensemble officially changed to the Marvelous Marching Mizzou). He wrote and composed one of MU’s favorite fight songs, “Give a Cheer for Mizzou’s Tigers!,” which was premiered by Marching Mizzou in 1994. Jared Rawlings, Director of the University of Missouri School of Music, writes “Carl was a beloved individual within the fabric of the Mizzou community. His departure leaves an irreplaceable void, deeply felt by all who were fortunate enough to share in his company. Carl Bolte, celebrated for his boundless passion for music, steadfast commitment to his service, and his warmth and generosity, leaves behind a legacy that will forever resonate with the School of Music and the ‘Marvelous’ Marching Mizzou.”

As songwriter, playwright, theatrical director and record producer, Bolte served as a faculty member of the University of Missouri at Kansas City, Conservatory of Music. He is the author of the textbook Successful Songwriting and the Songwriters Creative Matrix songwriting tool. In his Kansas City community, Bolte was past president of the Rotary Club, Goodwill Industries along with other civic activities including the Salvation Army and Starlight Theatre boards. In 1995, Bolte received the Mizzou Alumni Association Faculty and Alumni Award in recognition of his impact on the university and is a member of the Jefferson Club.

During his time as an MU student, Bolte lettered on the MU Baseball Team in 1955. He is married to Jane Ann Bowen Bolte with the Bolte legacy at MU also includes his parents, Carl Bolte, Sr. '23 and Muriel Eastman Bolte '23; his uncle Harry Bolte '30; his brother, Denslow E. Bolte '54; and his nephew, Carrick E. Bolte '79. Bolte died in Kansas City on January 25, 2024, following a long illness. He was 94.