Glenn Korff was born on May 29, 1943, the son of Paul W. and Esther L. Korff. He was raised in Hebron, Nebraska and graduated from Hebron High School in 1961. While attending Hebron High School, he was President of the Student Council, a participant in athletics earning eight varsity letter awards and a member of the National Honor Society. He was also active in Boy Scouts, being awarded its two highest honors – becoming an Eagle Scout and earning the God and Country Award.
Korff attended the University of Nebraska graduating in 1965. While at the university, he served two terms as President of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and was selected as Outstanding District Sigma Phi Epsilon President in 1964. He was a member of the Interfraternity Council, Kosmet Klub and served as a Student Senate Chairman. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Arts and Sciences with a double major in Chemistry and Zoology and a minor in Economics. He was a member of Phi Lambda Upsilon, national chemistry honor society for academic achievement. He served as Vice-President of Theta Nu science honorary and was selected to be a member of Gamma Gamma Gamma honorary for outstanding service to the Greek system at the university. He was nominated for Outstanding Nebraskan and was an Outstanding Collegiate Man Finalist. A highlight for Korff was his selection to become a member of the Innocent’s Society, founded in 1903 as a senior men’s service honorary for outstanding achievement at the University of Nebraska.
Watch an interview with Jay Pokorny, lifelong friend of Glenn Korff
After graduation, Korff spent one year at the University of Nebraska College of Medicine doing graduate work in the medical sciences. He then attended the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Finance, where he graduated in 1968 with a Masters of Business Administration being on the Director’s Honor List.
He joined the United States Army Reserve in 1967 and was honorably discharged in 1973. Upon completion of his active duty, he was cited as a Military Honor Graduate.
Upon his graduation from the Wharton School of Finance in Philadelphia, he journeyed to New York City to work in a sales position in the corporate and government bond department for Salomon Brothers, investment bankers and bond dealers, from 1969 to 1974. From 1974 until 1992 he worked for Goldman Sachs, international investment bankers, in New York City. He was named a Vice-President Executive Director of Goldman Sachs in 1976 and was manager of the New York Corporate and Government Bond Sales Group from 1976 to 1987. From 1987 until 1992, Korff headed the Goldman Sachs Fixed Income Compliance Department with worldwide responsibilities. Korff was responsible for the regulatory compliance for the Fixed Income Division with respect to the Securities Exchange Commission, the New York Stock Exchange, the Chicago Board of Trade and the National Association of Security Dealers. The regulatory supervision included all sales and trading personnel in the Fixed Income Division for the Goldman Sachs offices in the United States as well as in London, Toronto, Frankfurt, Paris, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Zurich. While living in New York City, Korff was a member of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, where he was active serving as a Deacon and as an Elder as well as serving on numerous committees.
Since 1992, Korff was semi-retired managing Korff Holdings, a personal investment company. He served as a Trustee of the University of Nebraska Foundation. He was named to the University of Nebraska Chancellor’s Club and the University of Nebraska President’s Club with Distinction. For contributions to Sigma Phil Epsilon fraternity he was a member of the Golden Heart Society. At the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Finance, he was a member of the Benjamin Franklin Society and the Joseph Wharton Club. He was also a member of the David Brainerd Perry Society and the President’s Club at Doane College in Crete, Nebraska. He is also listed as a member of the Dean’s Club and a Founder of the Hixson-Lied College of Fine & Performing Arts at the University of Nebraska and has been honored as a donor of distinction at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln, Nebraska. At the time of his death, Korff resided in Boulder, Colorado. He served on the Board of Directors of the Boulder Public Library Foundation and supported the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra, the Colorado Music Festival, Global Response and the Dairy Center for the Arts. He enjoyed his investing activities, photography, hiking, college sports and the general ambiance of Colorado.
Watch Cornhusker Marching Band travels to honor Glenn Korff
It's official UNL School of Music is now Glenn Korff School of Music
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s School of Music has been renamed the Glenn Korff School of Music in honor of Glenn Korff, who announced in August 2013 a gift of $8 million to the University of Nebraska Foundation to support the School.
The name change was approved by the Board of Regents at their Sept. 20 meeting.
“The naming of the School in Mr. Korff’s honor elevates the School of Music to a new level and is the beginning of the next exciting chapter in its proud history,” said Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts Endowed Dean Charles O’Connor. “We thank the Board of Regents for supporting this name change to honor this very generous man and preserve his legacy at the University of Nebraska.” Read the full article
