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The Arkansas State University Alumni Association recognized its three 2020 Distinguished Alumni in September, even though the Homecoming game and most associated activities had to be canceled. The honorees are Charles Kruse of Dexter, Mo., Anderson Neal of Texarkana, and Paden Neeley of Lewisville, Texas. Each one has attained an outstanding record of professional and civic achievements, as well as giving loyal support to A-State. This is the 37th year the association has recognized the university’s most distinguished alumni, selected from nominations submitted by the public. A list of previous honorees, along with the nomination form, are available at AStateAlumni.org/DA.
Kruse, a fourth-generation family farmer, is retired from an 18-year tenure as president of the Missouri Farm Bureau. He also served as a member of the American Farm Bureau Board of Directors and one of four persons on the American Farm Bureau’s executive committee. A Stoddard County native, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in agronomy in the College of Agriculture in 1967, and later completed a master’s at the University of Missouri. He received gubernatorial appointments to the University Missouri Board of Curators and as director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture. He was appointed by President George H.W. Bush to the 19 member “President’s Council on Rural America,” and President George W. Bush appointed him to the “President’s Trade Advisory Council.” He also enlisted in the Missouri Army National Guard, from which he retired as brigadier general with 26 years of service. Active in numerous civic and business interests, Kruse serves on the A-State College of Agriculture’s advisory council, a member of Central Bank Holding Company’s board, which operates 13 banks with a presence in seven states, and a member of the Southeast Health board and executive committee that oversees more than 50 care locations. He and his wife Pam are parents of two adult sons, Scott and Ben (deceased).
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