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CMU President's Medal Award
J.B. Waggoner, '91, and Dr. Drake just after the award presentation.
Central Methodist University presented the first-ever President’s Medal to one of its most talented and committed alums -- J.B. Waggoner, ’91. Dr. Roger Drake surprised Waggoner with the prestigious award during a ceremony on June 14 at the Coleman House in Fayette.
“The first recipient of the President’s Medal provided crucial advice and counsel to lead the university through the recent pandemic,” Drake said. “He has truly given sacrificially of his time, talent, and treasure. He provides quality jobs in our community and works tirelessly in support of economic development and the betterment of Fayette.”
The President’s Medal will be given at the discretion of the president only to those individuals who have contributed significantly of their time, expertise, and financial resources, and whose contributions have made an impact on the campus to students, faculty, or staff.
Waggoner, who runs Inovatia Laboratories in Fayette, spent many years serving on CMU’s Board of Trustees, some as chairman of the building and grounds committee.
“J.B. is probably the smartest guy I know,” Drake said. “On the board, he filled the huge shoes of Fred Alexander, '58, and he did well. That committee planned the construction of the Thogmorton Center and the renovation of Stedman Hall, fundamentally positioning the college for the future.”
Waggoner’s economic development interests span mid-Missouri. He serves as chairman of the Moberly Area Economic Development Council and is on the board of Fayette’s new Community Improvement District. He also served as mayor of Fayette in the early 2000s.
He was surprised by the recognition.
“I am honored to have been recognized by Dr. Drake and CMU in this manner,” he said. “It is such a pleasure to have the opportunity to work with fine people who are doing interesting things. In fact, I should probably be giving Roger Drake and his team awards for allowing me to participate.”
Waggoner said he had no idea while attending then-Central Methodist College that he would end up making a life for himself in Fayette.
“After having lived here for a couple of years while attending graduate school, I discovered it would be a great place to do life,” he said. “Fayette and Howard County are great places and CMU contributes to that, significantly.
“My commitment to helping preserve and grow these places (CMU and our communities) has come with the encouragement and support of many others who are committed to the same goal.”
Freddie and Barbara Alexander with their children
FRED ALEXANDER RECOGNIZED FOR LIFETIME OF SERVICE TO CENTRAL
Central Methodist University this summer honored a man without whom the college might not exist. During a celebration recognizing the contributions of Fred Alexander, ‘58, the Central legend was awarded the prestigious President’s Medal.
President Roger Drake presented the award July 15 at the Inman Student and Community Center amidst a celebration that brought together many members of the Alexander family, as well as the patriarch’s friends and other members of the Central community. The President’s Medal is given at Drake’s discretion to those who have contributed significantly to enhance the University, and whose contributions made an impact on the campus, the students, faculty, or staff.
“The Board of Trustees told me to award it to people who had made a lasting contribution to the college, to the people who have given sacrificially of their time and talent and treasure,” Drake explained. “Give it to people without whom the college might not exist. . . were it not for their great dedication to the university.”
As evidenced by stories told at the event, Alexander is the perfect example of such a person. Drake told the room about Alexander’s “record of service that will never be matched,” including his 35 years as a member of the Board of Trustees, his donations of land, manpower, and supplies to build up the campus we see today, and his supply of coal to keep the college running when things seemed most dire.
“Fred and [his wife] Barbara, '56, carried this college through a time when Central may not have survived without them,” Drake said.
Sentiments on Alexander’s dedication were echoed throughout the night, particularly by his daughter, Leslie Alexander Foiles, who was the first featured speaker. She gave a brief history of her family and of her father’s contributions to the university.
“My dad loves his family, his friends, this university, and this community,” she said. “His life has been dedicated to these loves.”
Alexander’s longtime friend, Earl Bates, ’61, also spoke about the President’s Medal winner, calling him “the epitome of the American success story.”
“I would have crawled on broken glass from Montana to get here,” Bates told Alexander. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”
Another lifelong family friend and fellow trustee, Janet Jacobs, ’77, expressed gratitude for Alexander’s contributions, vision, and friendship, notably recalling how the two had once disagreed on the preservation of Classic Hall. In short, Alexander “wouldn’t let Classic Hall die,” and today it is the heart of the arts at Central – housing the Ashby-Hodge Gallery of American Art and the practice rooms for band and choir.
After watching his father receive the President’s Medal, Rick Alexander, ’03, fought back tears as he reflected on the “wonderful and appropriate tribute" to his father.
“I’ve learned from him that nothing worth doing is easy, and that you should never give up on the things that are important,” Rick continued. “The outcome of things may not turn out the way you want them to, but things almost always work out for the best.”
The relationship between the Alexander family and Central Methodist has undoubtedly worked out for the best and will continue to do so, with the gift of 35 acres of land that “will soon propel the college forward in enrollment and student engagement opportunities,” according to Drake.
Evidence of Alexander’s impact can be seen in so many places.
“I could talk all night about how much Fred Alexander means to Central Methodist, but no matter what I say, it wouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone in this room,” Drake concluded. “We can stand on any corner of the beautiful campus and see, and feel, the contributions of time, talent, and treasure by Fred Alexander.”
President Roger Drake offers congratulations.
