速 UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL MISSOURI MAGAZINE
VO L . 1 5 , N O. 2
THE
HOUSING GUY FROM A TOWN OF 52 TO A COMMUNITY
50 TIMES LARGER
Welcome to a new issue of your “UCM Magazine.” We hope it educates and engages you in the life of your alma mater. Let us know what you would like to see in future issues by emailing us at ucmmagazine@ucmo.edu or 660-543-8000.
COVE R STORY
4
S ECT I O N S
THE HOUSING GUY
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When he thinks about his small town roots, Patrick Bradley often finds his current job amazing to believe. The senior housing director manages the university’s residential enterprise, a small town with 3,500 people, a reputedly “haunted” house and buildings mostly from the sixties.
UCM FOUNDATION FY2015 ANNUAL REPORT
USING AFRICAN RHYTHMS IN HER TEACHING
STUDENT-RUN RADIO STATION COMES TO LIFE New audio equipment leads to radio club and student-run station.
AMMUNITION POWERS CJ TEAM TO THE TOP First place finishes rely upon financing and obtaining ammunition.
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Ewe drums and shakers give music students a West African challenge. 18
26 INTERACTIONS 27 CLASS NOTES
30 IN MEMORIAM 20
Alumni and friends make a difference in the lives of UCM students. 16
10 CENTRAL YESTERDAY
29 AWARDS & HONORS
FE AT URE S
12
CAMPUS CURRENTS
A MAP WITH A VIEW AND OLD TIES Aerial maps, Google Earth and a Foundation grant make a 3-D difference.
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REDMAN TRAINING SAVES LIVES Hands-on practice prepares police cadets for real-life confrontations.
FIND US ONLINE AT UCMO.EDU/UCMMAGAZINE
P R ES I D ENT ’S M ES S AG E
MAGAZINE Vol. 15 No. 2 , Fal l 2 0 1 5
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Dalene Abner ’09 DESIGNER
Julie Babcock PHOTOGRAPHER
Bryan Tebbenkamp ’03
Published by Alumni Relations and Development. © 2015 by University of Central Missouri. All rights reserved. Find us online: ucmo.edu/ucmmagazine Contact the editor at ucmmagazine@ucmo.edu or 660-543-4545. Submit your address updates online to ucmo.edu/mynewaddress, by email to alumni@ucmo.edu or telephone, 660-543-8000 or toll-free, 1-866-752-7257. UCM Magazine (USPS 019-888) is published quarterly by the University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO 64093. Printed by Lane Press, 87 Meadowland Drive, South Burlington, VT 05403. Periodicals postage paid at Warrensburg, MO, and additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to UCM
Magazine, Smiser Alumni Center, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO 64093. To view the University of Central Missouri’s Nondiscrimination/Equal Opportunity Statement, visit ucmo.edu/nondiscrimination.
A Strong Foundation is Imperative for Student Success
O
ne of the University of Central Missouri’s strongest assets is its nonprofit organization, the UCM Foundation, that is committed to student success by raising funds beyond revenue sources generated through state appropriations and tuition dollars. The investment of private dollars into the UCM Foundation has contributed to making us one of the fastest-growing universities in Missouri as support has a positive impact on our commitment to student success and degree completion. It helps the university to provide engaged learning opportunities that add value to students’ education through faculty and staff members who are focused on their success. As you view this edition of “UCM Magazine,” you’ll have an opportunity to read the UCM Foundation Annual Report, giving you a better idea about what private giving means to the success of our students. What’s more, you’ll learn about special programs that enhance academic quality that may not be possible without the willingness of UCM alumni and friends to provide financial support. Opportunity Grants are among such initiatives. Created by the UCM Foundation three years ago, they help fund innovative ideas from faculty and staff designed to improve students’ learning experiences. Within the following pages, you will learn more about projects that received funding for Fiscal Year 2016. This includes initiatives ranging from a 3D global mapping project that will help local and campus leaders determine the best infrastructure for future growth and the purchase of a RedMan Suit and batons to be used by the Missouri Police Academy to train students on defensive tactics, to the acquisition of Ewe drums from West African nations for the Music of the World’s Cultures course. We hope this issue of “UCM Magazine” educates, informs and inspires you as you continue to support your alma mater. Joining you in service,
Chuck Ambrose PR ESI DE N T
University of Central Missouri Magazine
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C AM P US C UR R E NT S
FACULTY FO CUS
Crocheted Doilies, Finger Flowers Color Professor’s Marathons as He Raises Money Supporting Alzheimer’s Research
UCM Students Win State Farm Competition Two UCM marketing students claimed the top award in the 2015 State Farm Marketing and Sales Competition on campus this fall. Facing 11 schools from throughout the nation, Kylie Marconnet from Maysville, MO, and Robert Hughey from Overland Park, KS, claimed the Team Competition Award by accumulating the highest combined scores in the marketing presentation and sales role play tasks. “IT WAS A TREMENDOUS HONOR TO WATCH THESE TWO OUTSTANDING STUDENTS SHOWCASE THEIR SKILLS.”
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ssociate art and design professor David Babcock knows what it’s like to get national media attention. Two years ago, he claimed the Guinness World Record for the longest scarf knit while running a marathon. That took place in Kansas City, with Babcock completing the run in five hours, 48 minutes and 27 seconds, and with a scarf he garter-stitched along the route that measured 12 feet, 3/4 of an inch. In a similar achievement this fall, he ran the “Doily Dash” at the Wadell & Reed Marathon in Kansas City. As a way to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Association, he attempted to create the world’s largest doily at the same time he ran in the event. His hope was to run a 10-minute-mile pace so he could crochet a yarn mat about one yard in diameter by the time he Professor David finished. “Most people think of a grandma Babcock loves sitting comfortably at to experiment, home when they think of knowing that crochet doilies. I wanted it can come to do something very with failure but out-of-place and visibly also with the fun for this marathon,” he said. “I hoped that chance to learn when people saw me something new. running the marathon
– Team Adviser Ginger Killian
Scores were determined by combining a student’s first and second round sales play with the team’s marketing presentation. Hughey also placed first in the combined competition with Marconnet second. They received combined awards of $14,500. Universities in the competition included Arizona State, Duquesne, Georgia, Houston, Minnesota, Missouri, Oregon, Southern California, Texas State, Wake Forest and Western Michigan.
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with a big lacy doily they would remember how awful Alzheimer’s disease is and that they can do something to help.” An avid runner, Babcock took his knitting to the streets also in one of the world’s biggest running events, the New York City Marathon. Instead of knitting a scarf or doily, though, he finger-crocheted
flowers to give to spectators along the route hoping to generate more attention and funding to support Alzheimer’s caregivers and research. “I don’t need publicity, but a good cause like Alzheimer’s really does,” says Babcock. He’s following in the footsteps of U.K. marathon knitter Susie Hewer, who held the previous world record, by completing the scarf challenge to benefit the Alzheimer’s Research UK. “As long as I can keep raising money for Alzheimer’s, I’ll keep doing crazy runs,” he says. He raised just under $10,000 last year, when he ran the New York City Marathon for the first time in just under four hours - a personal best - while double-knitting a six-foot scarf with the words “I’ll Remember For You.” The professor loves to experiment, knowing that it can come with failure but also with the chance to learn something new. He explained his strategy. “I needed something easy enough to deal with during the stress and frustration of a marathon while still being impressively doily-like. I’m not a math genius and it took a lot of failures to find an appropriate pattern and increase per row that would lay flat. I couldn’t go too long with a chain stitch because my other hand would always be holding the work. I wanted to maximize stitches going into spaces rather than hard to target previous stitches. I needed to keep the counting simple and repetitive, easy to see where I was without memorization or referring to a pattern.” The result: a completed marathon, friends made and a cause served throughout the route.
CAM P US CUR R ENT S
“Since when do you have to agree with people to defend them from injustice?” — LILLIAN HELMAN, AUTHOR OF THE “LITTLE FOXES” BEING PERFORMED ON CAMPUS FEB. 17-21
FULB RIGHT C HAI R
I NTERNATI ON A L RECO G N I T I O N
Stevenson Awarded Life Membership to NAFSA
Hughes Honored as Missouri Sports Legend
Joseph Lewandowski, professor of philosophy and dean of The Honors College and International Affairs, has received a Fulbright Distinguished Chair appointment to serve in the Czech Republic for the spring semester. He will hold the Fulbright Masaryk Distinguished Chair in Social Studies at Masaryk University, the second largest university in the Czech Republic. Fulbright Distinguished Chairs are the most prestigious appointment awarded by the U.S. Department of State. Out of some 800 Fulbright grants awarded annually, only 40 are for distinguished chairs at 22 universities across the globe. Masaryk University has more than 42,000 students and is widely recognized for its research programs. It is located in the city of Brno near the Czech border with Austria and Slovakia.
Joy Stevenson, director emerita of the International Center, is one of five individuals recently awarded life membership to NAFSA: the Association of International Educators. She was recognized for her 32 years of service to UCM, her career dedication to advancing international education and mentoring of others. Stevenson’s accomplishments include service for NAFSA Board of Directors as the vice president of member relations, NAFSA membership and leadership development committees, Council of Advisers to Foreign Students and Scholars, as a regional council liaison for leadership development, and as president and Board of Directors member of the Kansas City International Relations Council. In 2014, she also received the Homer Higbee Award for Distinguished Service to NAFSA.
Central Missouri’s athletic director, Jerry Hughes, has been named a Missouri Sports Legend, the highest honor possible from the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. A specially commissioned bust of Hughes, cast in bronze, will be displayed at the Hall’s Legend Walkway, which also honors Stan Musial, Norm Stewart, George Brett, Len Dawson and others. Hughes has served as athletic director since 1983. Under his leadership, UCM’s athletics has enjoyed unprecedented success, highlighted by the dual NCAA Division II basketball championships in 1984 and the men’s basketball national title in 2014. UCM also won the 1994 and 2003 NCAA D-II baseball championships, the 2003 women’s bowling national title, the 2014 men’s basketball national crown and the 2015 Indoor & Outdoor national titles for Jennies Track and Field.
Performers and artists among Missouri’s 30,000 Native Americans added to the success of the first Trading Moon Pow Wow held on campus.
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H I G H E ST S PO RTS H O N O R
Czech Republic Awaits Fulbright Chair Lewandowski
Pow Wow
A record number of graduate students,
received postbaccalaureate degrees at commencement ceremonies in December. Degrees also were conferred on 721 undergraduates.
Recognized for its strong commitment to the men and women who serve the country,
UCM HAS BEEN DESIGNATED A
TOP
MILITARY SCHOOL in the 2016 MAE&T Guide to Colleges & Universities published by the Military Advanced and Education Transition.
“
Today, I will… Tomorrow I will.
”
THOSE TWO PHRASES ARE USED BY VISITING WRITER JANICE HARRINGTON, POET AND AUTHOR, TO ENCOURAGE CHILDREN THROUGH A “LIST” STRATEGY TO WRITE POETRY.
University of Central Missouri Magazine
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FROM A TOWN OF 52 TO A COMMUNITY 50 TIMES LARGER
by Jeff Murphy and Dalene Abner
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KENT, IOWA POPULATION: 61
LENOX, IOWA POPULATION: 1,407
UCM HOUSING POPULATION: 3,525
W
hen he thinks about his small town roots, Patrick Bradley often finds his current job amazing to believe. The University of Central Missouri senior housing director manages the university’s residential enterprise. Think of it as a small town with a population of 3,500 people, complete with a reputedly “haunted” house and buildings mostly from the sixties. Population-wise, it’s more than 50 times bigger than the mailing address that Bradley had growing up on a farm in Iowa and three times the size of his high school hometown. Yet, the size doesn’t daunt Bradley, even when you throw in the latest newcomer, the $42-million, 185,000-square-foot The Crossing – South at Holden. This new front door to campus adds to the town’s stories with its
University of Central Missouri Magazine
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THE CROSSING
The Crossing is designed as a neighborhood with each wing representing a block, each floor a street and each unit a home.
BUILT 2015
185,000 RESIDENTIAL SQUARE FEET (388,000 TOTAL)
325 BEDS
8,500 CUBIC YARDS OF CONCRETE
250 TONS OF STEEL
380,000 BRICKS
72 MILES OF WIRING
4,400 ELECTRICAL OUTLETS
5,000 LIGHT FIXTURES
795 PROFESSIONALS ON THE JOB PAYROLL OVER
$15 MILLION COST
$42 MILLION
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connections to alumni who helped to build it, such as project superintendent, Freddy Allison, and the professor emeritus who inspired his career, Jack Landers. Bradley, known for his friendly demeanor, positive attitude and leadership, was not only an instrumental part of the planning process for The Crossing but has overseen upgrades in every campus residence hall since he arrived at UCM in 1996. He inherited a system with a $55,000 reserve and a $13 million budget, including just $275,000 for housing improvements. Drawing from his previous experience and strong business acumen, he successfully built up financial resources to modernize and improve living and dining facilities campus-wide. “One of the things I’m most proud of is being able to take a housing system that was nearly bankrupt and turn it into a place that’s viable by starting to replace equipment, buying new furniture and fixing up the buildings,” he said. “I believe that, hopefully, I can leave here someday with people saying Patrick Bradley was a good steward of students’ money in terms of trying to take care of the buildings without charging exorbitant prices for housing.” That kind of attitude and caring spirit has accompanied Bradley throughout his career in student housing, starting from 1982-1996 at Eastern Illinois University. Those qualities, along with his strong desire to serve, contributed to his recent national recognition as one of six individuals who received the prestigious Parthenon Award at the American College and University Housing Officers-International Annual Conference and Exposition. The award recognizes outstanding collegiate housing professionals
for their service, leadership, achievement and contributions in housing, residence life or an affiliated field. More excitement occurred this fall with the grand opening of The Crossing – South at Holden. Bradley said, “Students kept saying they would like to live in apartment-style housing but they wanted private bedrooms. We developed a plan for two- and four-bedroom apartments and the designers came up with the two-story units we call the garden apartments.” There to share that excitement was 2000 alumnus Freddy Allison, senior superintendent for design builder, McCownGordon Construction, as well as 2003 graduate Scott Gebken, the health and safety coordinator for AT Industries. For Allison, a Marshall, MO, high school graduate, the project earned him satisfaction and praise. “To be able to come back here and be a part of this is pretty amazing,” Allison said. The immense project represented a career path common to many UCM alumni, encouraged by their teachers to pursue professional careers. In Allison’s case, he participated in his high school’s building trades program for two years. “My teacher, Greg Kempf told me ‘you really get the industry’ and introduced me to a local builder Darrell Ahrens, saying he could teach me more.” Allison joined Ahren’s crew and after graduating, received another push – this time to pursue his associate degree at State Fair Community College. “At 18 years old, I liked being a carpenter and enjoyed doing the work. I was working on a degree in building materials merchandising about owning and operating a lumber yard, thinking that could help me build houses.” When Allison finished his associate degree,
JACK LANDERS
Professor Emeritus of Industrial Technology
FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES, HE INFLUENCED HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS INCLUDING FREDDY TO SUCCEED IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.
FREDDY ALLISON Senior Superintendent for The Crossing
HIS HIGH SCHOOL DREAM CAREER WAS A MASTER CARPENTER UNTIL THREE MENTORS ENCOURAGED HIM TO GO FOR A COLLEGE DEGREE.
University of Central Missouri Magazine
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UCM RESIDENCE HALLS AN INTERESTING FACT Women’s and men’s residence halls were named according to the gender they housed. Do you know which halls housed women, and which housed men? While we’re at it, do you know which hall first became co-ed? And when?
directly with Cherafat. In that same time period, Pat McCown and Brett Gordon broke away from Walton and started their own company. Allison had an entry-level job offer with Walton before he graduated “but I stayed in touch with those guys. When they made me a job offer, I jumped at it. At the time I was their seventh employee. I was young, in my early 20s, and it was a new opportunity to get on the ground floor of a new company. I didn’t think twice.” The Crossing is one of the largest projects he has supervised, and in its 18-month timeframe, he was instrumental in creating internships for seven students. He said, “To take what you’ve learned in the classroom and apply it in the three-dimensional form gives you that ‘a-ha’ moment.” With its sleek glass views over the campus and town, and its lower-floor retail space for Spin Neopolitan Pizza and Starbucks Coffee, The Crossing is generating many of those a-ha moments. “The Crossing project really underlines the fact that in college learning takes place where students are. This is one of those projects that re-defines not only our university but how colleges can really help students be successful with their degrees,” said UCM President Charles Ambrose. n
HOUTS HALL
BRADSHAW HALL
FITZGERALD HALL
HOSEY HALL
BUILT 1957 49,046 SQUARE FEET 112 ROOMS
BUILT 1963 69,487 SQUARE FEET 125 ROOMS
BUILT 1968 98,990 SQUARE FEET 156 ROOMS
BUILT 1958 47,103 SQUARE FEET 89 ROOMS
KNOX HALL
BUILT 1963 45,715 SQUARE FEET 64 ROOMS
PANHELLENIC HALL
YEATER HALL
SOUTH TODD HALL
NATTINGER HALL
SOUTH YEATER HALL
DIEMER HALL
BUILT 1941 56,959 SQUARE FEET 112 ROOMS
BUILT 1961 17,352 SQUARE FEET 31 ROOMS
BUILT 1963 123,367 SQUARE FEET 130 ROOMS
BUILT 1965 65,136 SQUARE FEET 96 ROOMS
BUILT 1966 94,434 SQUARE FEET 194 ROOMS
BUILT 1948 39,805 SQUARE FEET 68 ROOMS
FOSTER HALL
BUILT 1962 54,375 SQUARE FEET 46 ROOMS
ELLIS EAST, NORTH, SOUTH
GREENWOOD PARK
TODD HALL
NICKERSON HALL
FRATERNITY COMPLEX
CENTRAL VILLAGE
BUILT 1952 52,984 SQUARE FEET 34 ROOMS
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another teacher, Steve Bloess, suggested he pursue the bachelor’s degree at UCM. “He told me ‘you get this’ and I was like ‘but I don’t want to do big commercial projects.’ He pulls me aside a week later and tells me ‘you need to move on. Go talk to Dr. Landers.’ That’s how I came to Warrensburg.” For five semesters, Allison pursued a bachelor’s degree, all the time continuing to work as a laborer and carpenter. Then department chair Jack Landers became the third teacher to encourage him to pursue a professional construction management career. “Dr. Landers’ encouragement to work in the commercial construction industry was a monumental turning point in my young career,” Allison said. He recalled one summer in particular when his brother, a foreman at Walton Construction, had a job with a three-month completion date. “I joined the labor union and worked 12 hours a day, 10 on Saturday and 8 on Sunday,” Allison said. “It was one of the best jobs money-wise I had. I stashed that money so didn’t have to work my senior year.” It also led to an internship with project manager, Ramin Cherafat, and division manager Bret Gordon. “I was only a laborer but I would talk with them,” he said. The next year Allison did an internship
Vol. 15, No. 2 | ucmo.edu/ucmmagazine
BUILT 1962 61,547 SQUARE FEET 84 ROOMS
BUILT 1964 228,229 SQUARE FEET 468 ROOMS
BUILT 1965 71,916 SQUARE FEET 144 ROOMS
BUILT 1987-88 42 ROOMS
BUILT 1990-91 80 ROOMS
MARCH 2014
APRIL 2014
MAY 2014
JUNE 2014
JULY 2014
AUGUST 2014
SEPTEMBER 2014
OCTOBER 2014
NOVEMBER 2014
DECEMBER 2014
JANUARY 2015
FEBRUARY 2015
THE CROSSING: 18 MONTHS GOULD EVANS • MASTER PLANNER TREANOR • ARCHITECTS McCOWNGORDON • CONSTRUCTION
MARCH 2015
APRIL 2015
MAY 2015
TIMELAPSE JUNE 2015
With a camera set up inside the press box of Walton Stadium, campus photographer and UCM alumnus Bryan Tebbenkamp took hundreds of photos to create a project time lapse that you can view at ucmo.edu/life/thecrossing.cfm. As you watch, pay attention to the shadows indicating the passing of each day.
JULY 2015
AUGUST 2015
University of Central Missouri Magazine
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C EN TR A L Y E S T E R D AY
Prairie Love Lyric
A LOVE FOR LITERATURE ABOVE ALL, MISS TODD WAS A MASTER TEACHER. SHE KNEW THE SECRET OF LEADING YOUNG PEOPLE TO THE EXCITEMENT OF READING GREAT LITERATURE.
S
tudents say it was Miss Todd’s sense of humor that made talking with her like walking in the park on the first sunny day of spring. Miss Anna Marie Todd taught English on campus from 1908–1953, first at the Training School then at the university. She was the second woman to have a residence hall named in her honor, Todd Hall in 1952, following in the footsteps of favorite Latin teacher Laura Yeater. Documents at the UCM McClure Archives note that students spoke of Miss Todd in poetic tone. “As a teacher she took to hear the fable of the sun and wind. The wind could not force a traveler to remove his coat but the sun had no trouble in doing so at all. So Miss Todd, in all gentleness, avoided the blustering approach but influenced her students powerfully with the warmth of her understanding.” The daughter of a teacher and county superintendent, she was born in Seneca, KS, only 25 years after its founding. She went
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with her family to Washington and while in high school, earned her teaching certificate in 1899. She wasn’t happy with her first teaching experience in a country school with 5 or 6 students so she went on to earn a 64hour diploma at Cheney Normal School in Washington. She taught there from 19041908, studying summers at the University of Chicago where she made a Warrensburg connection with then president W. J. Hawkins. He thought her a little young to teach but offered her a position as supervisor of English at the Training School. She faced her first dilemma, choosing between Seattle or Warrensburg. Her choice was Warrensburg for the next 45 years. As her students noted, “As the ripples caused by a stone thrown in the water never really die away but spread infinitely to the edges of the world, so her influences will pass from students to their students and on and on forever.” “Perhaps no person has led so many students on our campus to a love of literature as Miss Marie Todd. Beloved teacher in the English department for memory-filled years, honored by having the women’s dormitory named after her, Miss Todd is still much in evidence at college gatherings. We will always remember how beautifully she read poetry and the lovely little verses she wrote herself.” n
Prairies where you grew, A native child, have fashioned you. Like grains and grass, you grow in grace. Upon your face Red sumac and white elderberry glow; Along your ways, wild flowers blow; And from your heart flow living springs Of unplumbed depths, for thirsting things, Prairie-born, your primer was the sky. Beyond its far horizons lie Potentialities of life and lore To keep you pilgrim, evermore. Like prairie soil, You are acquainted with the pains of toil; But plow and sickle are not all; for years, Through evanescent hopes and documented fears, Your faith has sought the sun’s dynamic dower, The test by fire, creative power; And life for you a fruitage yields, Golden as the grains, of prairie fields. – M A R I E TO D D
CENT R AL Y ES T ER D AY
Brought to Warrensburg as supervisor of English for the Training School, Miss Marie Todd soon joined the faculty. It was said she knew the secret of leading her students to enjoy reading great literature. BE LOW: These photos of Todd Hall’s dining room provide a glimpse into the facility’s history. The 1952 dormitory was the second built on campus. L E F T:
Todd Hall, the second women’s domitory on campus, is now an upper-class facility of primarily one-bedroom apartments.
University of Central Missouri Magazine
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FY 2015 UCM FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT
M ESSAGE FROM T HE EXECUTI VE DI RECTO R
The True Difference Makers The ripple effect of this scholarship has touched at least two generations. The difference that is being made is simply remarkable. One by one lives are changing. Our desire is to unite your generosity with the needs of our students to help them succeed. Since I was asked to serve as executive director of the UCM Foundation four years ago, I have visited with hundreds of you, our alumni and donors. Overwhelmingly, the same reasons surface about why you choose to invest – a desire to make a difference. I want to thank you, our donors, for standing in the gap between the cost of a college degree and our students’ ability to pay. You have met the need that will continue a dream. For that I am grateful. Warmest Regards,
Jason Drummond, Ed.D. EXEC UT I V E DI R EC TO R O F T HE U CM FO UNDAT I O N AND V I C E PR ESIDENT OF ALUMNI R EL AT I O NS AND DEVELOPM ENT
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ILLUSTRATION BY DAVID BABCOCK
A
s we present this Foundation annual report information, it is worth pausing to consider a fundamental question: What difference do private gifts have? Gifts may seem an impersonal financial transaction without significant personal impact. That is simply not the case. Gifts have incredible meaning to the students who are beneficiaries of your expressions of generosity. Consider these words of thanks from one student scholarship recipient: “This is truly nothing short of a blessing. Education has always been very important to me. Now that I have a daughter I want to be able to set that standard for her. To show her that hard work pays off and that going to school and not giving up even when faced with obstacles can be achieved. Without people like you, students like me wouldn’t be able to reach their goals. My heart is truly full and I am looking forward to finishing my last two semesters at UCM. Then I, too, can be able to pay it forward to other UCM students in need of assistance.”
Why Your Gift Matters
$891,007 ENDOWMENT IMPACT
This 7% increase in the Foundation’s distribution shows steady growth of the Foundation’s endowment, which is critical to ensure a thriving source of financial support for students’ academic goals.
University of Central Missouri Magazine
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Financial Highlights W H E N A P P L IC A B L E , C HA RTS REFLECT AUDI TED FI GURES FOR T H E JU LY 1 - JU NE 3 0, 2 01 5 F IS C AL Y E AR.
Total Assets* A 3% increase in total assets represented another record year for the UCM Foundation, underscoring the success of its investment strategies.
FY11
$38 ,187,005
FY12
$38 , 863 , 336
Total Gifts
$4,169,634
$42 ,941 , 248
FY13
$50,072 ,155
FY14
$51 , 377, 527
FY15
*Numbers are as of June 30 each year
$51,377,527
FY 2015 was a $5, 212 , 219 FY11 strong fundraising year that finished $4 ,101 ,105 FY12 just short of the year’s goal. Among FY13 $3 ,794 , 809 the areas of support, 70% went $5, 324 , 379 FY14 to scholarships and awards, 14% to $4 ,169,634 FY15 academic programs, 9% to general areas, 6% to chairs and professorships and 1% to athletics.
Donors invested $1,193,991 into the endowment in FY2015. Endowments are at the heart of our mission to make a college degree more affordable and accessible to more students. In FY2015, they reached a market value of $36,567,548, an increase of 6.5%.
Undergraduate Retention ENDOWMENT IMPACT
27%
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Students with Foundation scholarships graduated at a 27% higher rate than other students.
3.14 GPA
3.47 GPA
Students without Foundation scholarships
Students with Foundation Scholarships
Vol. 15, No. 2 | ucmo.edu/ucmmagazine
Small Gifts, Big Impact
72%
Gifts of all sizes can have a big impact. In FY2015, alumni and friends contributed 9,182 gifts of $100 or less, accounting for nearly 3/4 of total gifts.
FY 2015 UCM FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT
Types of Gifts
$1,123,069
Sources of Gifts
5,561
8%
ESTATES & TRUSTS $621 ,435
Donors
Total Scholarships
Scholarships are the single largest area donors designate for their gift support and for good reason. Students who receive Foundation scholarships have higher grade point averages and are more likely to stay at UCM and complete their degrees.
FOU N DATIONS $343 , 946
28%
15%
23%
$167,785 in
26%
CORPOR ATIONS $949, 556
Stock Gifts
ALU M NI $1 ,151 ,69 8
FRIE N DS $1 ,102, 999
represented 4% of total gifts. U N RESTRICTE D $233 ,149 CAPITAL PROJ ECTS $467, 534
Where Every Dollar Goes
Total Number of Gifts
E NDOWM E NTS $61 8 , 501
32¢
Scholarships
22¢ Bricks & Mortar
21¢
Athletics
14¢ 11¢ Academics KMOS
Endowment Payout RESTRICTE D BY DONOR $2, 232,149
FY11 FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15
$498 , 244 $477, 250 $805,707 $835,027 $891 ,007
INCRE ASE OVER F Y2014
12,715
B EQU ESTS $617,670
University of Central Missouri Magazine University of Central Missouri Magazine
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OP PORT UNI T Y G R A NT • EW E D RUMS FROM W EST A FRICA
USING AFRICAN RHYTHMS IN HER TEACHING What do Buffalo Bill Wild West Shows, silent films and old Hollywood musicals have in common with Ewe drums? Allison Robbins
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usic has called to Allison Robbins since she was a young girl. She was trained as a concert pianist but realized after finishing a bachelor’s degree that she didn’t want to be a performer. “I realized what I truly enjoyed was thinking about music and writing about music history so I went into a graduate program focused on studying music from a cultural perspective,” said the assistant professor, who earned her PhD from the University of Virginia in critical and comparative studies in music. She’s in her third year of teaching at the University of Central Missouri following a path that brought her to Warrensburg from Kansas, Oklahoma, North Dakota, Maine, Virginia and Tennessee. Her academic path is similarly incongruent, taking her research interests from Buffalo Bill Wild West Shows, silent films and the golden era of Hollywood musicals to the Ewe drumming tradition of Ghana, Togo and Benin. Students in her “Music of the World Cultures” classes do more than just study this West African tradition, thanks to a UCM Foundation Opportunity Grant. This fall semester, they have the drums, shakers, bells and batons to actually play. A scholar of music, dance and media, Robbins said that in this class, “We look at a lot of music traditions from a cultural or historical perspective rather than theoretical. How music in different cultures serves people and how people use music in their daily lives,” she said, adding they study music of the Plains Indians, American South
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and India in addition to West Africa. What makes the Ewe tradition distinctive is that each musician plays a different pattern. “The excitement with the drumming tradition is once you have all the drums together and they all have their own rhythms happening simultaneously, you have all these interlocking rhythms. When you play, you are expected to hear what everyone else is playing but still play your own rhythm associated with your drum. That can be a challenge because if you hear someone else playing another rhythm, you want to lock in with them but you can’t. You have to keep your rhythm.” Multiple rhythms distinguish West African music, she noted. “That’s the fun part, the learning experience, to be able to hear the group rhythm while playing your own rhythm. That combination makes it exciting.” The variety of students in her class also adds to the challenge. There are music majors, percussionists and some who played in a band or sang in a church choir. Some are returning adults and some have never sung or played an instrument in their lives. A special handshake helps the class members acclimate as a group. “We greet each other with a West African handshake. When you shake hands, you actually snap your fingers when you pull away. Part of the Ewe music is participatory. You have to play together or the music doesn’t exist. No single drum can play everything. You have to interact and you have to listen to each other. It’s like saying ‘hi, we’re going to make music together.’” n
About UCM Foundation Opportunity Grants ESTABLISHED IN 1979, the foundation procures, maintains and administers philanthropic gifts that advance the university’s mission and help students attain their college goals. In keeping with that mission, the foundation established the Opportunity Grant Program to support faculty and staff who have ideas but insufficient funding. The UCM Foundation launched this grant program in 2013 to support targeted, studentcentered activities resulting in significant outcomes that benefit the university’s learning environment and students’ academic experience. Grants start at $100 and range to an individual maximum of $5,000. Grants are funded on the fiscal year running July 1 through June 30.
E W E I N S T RU M E N T S
In their native language the Ewe drums are known as astimewu, sogo, kidi, kagan, kroboto, totodzi. The beaded shakers are known as axastke, and the bells, gonkogut, provide the lead for the drums and shakers. Each musician has a pattern to play that comes together harmoniously with songs and dance.
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OP PORT UNI T Y G R A NT • T H E B EAT RA D IO STAT ION
M IC RO P H O NES C H ANG E LITT LE
Compared to cinema, the audio industry has reflected less technology change, says Steve Price, noting that outside of digital audio boards, some stations use World War II era microphones. He says the greatest change has been to their exterior design.
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STUDENT-RUN RADIO STATION COMES TO LIFE From a student radio station to drones for cinematography, Steve Price pushes for new technology in the curriculum.
W
ith today’s digital music apps, it’s difficult to believe there’s still a place for student-run radio stations but Steve Price, an assistant professor in the communication department, believes there is. He envisions an online station on air 24/7 that would stream performances live from Hendricks Hall and Hart Auditorium, plus feature one-on-one interviews about campus events, topics and people. He’s made progress in the past two years. With funding he and faculty member, Joe Moore, obtained through the UCM Foundation Opportunity Grant Program, they purchased equipment to update audio labs in the basement of the Martin Building. The speakers, microphones, headphones and audio snakes allowed students to start Campus Chatter and produce three radio shows, giving them hands-on practice with industry standard equipment. Price’s next project was starting a student radio club, and after navigating some legal issues through the university, the department contracted with Radionomy.com to launch an online station. The station can be found on Facebook at /UCMTheBeat. “The online station is a hybrid joint venture between the radio club as a student organization and the communication department. Our programming board decides what content goes on air. Students put together a play list and demo they submit to the board. It’s either a yes, it can air during this time block, or no, you need to fix this and resubmit. “We’re like a local affiliate radio,” said Price. “There’s four minutes of radio advertising for
every hour. We go through their music library but they have everything.” This kind of arrangement allows them to avoid complicated FCC requirements, he said. Radio has been part of Price’s life for some 23 years when he started working at Learfield Communication in Jefferson City, MO, as the board operator for the Mizzou Tiger Network. “I got my degree at Mizzou in communication but knew I wanted to go into radio so I took all the audio classes that I could.” When he started looking for a job, Price said he found only sales openings. Not wanting to go that direction, he went to San Francisco and pursued a master’s degree. “It was okay but not what I wanted to do. Getting my master’s at San Francisco State University, I taught some classes and found I liked it. I came back to Mizzou, got my PhD and taught video and audio production classes.” He taught at Georgia College before coming to UCM to teach audio, video and cinematography courses. The online radio station is just one innovation Price has pursued in the digital media curriculum. With an Opportunity Grant this fiscal year, he purchased a drone for cinematography students to add to their film and video clips. He’s working through commercial licensing issues with the FAA and collaborating with the aviation department to launch a training initiative that can inspire similar programs at other universities. “I’m a technology guy and saw the need when I came to UCM,” said Price. “My passion is to make sure that students have the tools they need and can become the best in this profession.” n
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OPP OR T UNI T Y G R A NT • A MMUNIT ION FOR T HE CJ TEAM
AMMUNITION POWERS CJ TEAM TO TOP T Gregg Etter provides a behind-the-scene look at the team’s firearms supply and competition requirements.
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hirteen consecutive national championships and a just won 14th consecutive regional title make it easy for criminal justice professor Gregg Etter to speak passionately about the UCM Lambda Alpha Epsilon GED team. “There are 260 chapters across the U.S. and nine in the region. This semester we have 67 students in LAE and the competition is insane. They don’t win these titles by divine right. Our teams are noted for their discipline, range safety and cleanliness, and accuracy,” he said. Such a winning tradition takes considerable time and practice. And in firearms, they especially have to plan ahead, given a national ammunition shortage. “There’s more demand than supply,” he said. “Some ammunition is fairly easy to get but expensive, and some is very hard to get. For example, we order our 22-ammunition more than a year in advance, 15,000 to 20,000 rounds at a time. Between the team and our two firearms classes, we go through 20,000 to 30,000 bullets a year,” he said. “That takes planning, coordination and effort. Other schools have been astonished at what we can get.” For the second year, a UCM Foundation Opportunity Grant is helping to defray the cost. Etter provided a behind-the-scenes look at how the team consistently wins first, second and third places in the individual and team firearms competitions at the lower, upper and professional levels. Students join the team with varying levels of experience, and some may have never even held a gun. No student has to handle a gun if they
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prefer not to or are incapable. Every member is required to take a safety course on weapon safety and operations, then they can shoot the basic 22 semi-automatic pistol. The team currently uses a shooting range in Independence, receiving one-on-one instruction. The range master is Richard Gillespie, a retired 45-year law enforcement officer who has won Top Gun several times. “Safety is our number one concern. Students learn proper position, course of fire, nomenclature of the weapon, how the weapon functions, the various safety features. All of this is required in a couple of classes,” said Etter. “When the students are accurate enough, and that can take awhile, then we start shooting a course of fire and they are against a clock. At 7 meters, they have to shoot two magazines of 6 rounds each. At 15, they have to shoot another 12 rounds standing, freehand. At 25, it’s 18 rounds, 6 rounds kneeling, 6 rounds left hand or your weak hand and 6 rounds right hand. “The last 6 rounds are standing unsupported at 25 meters. And that’s all against the clock. If you shoot before or after the whistle, there’s a deduction. If you don’t accurately hit the target, they pull you off the line. The national competition minimum is 240. Our club standard is 300.” Etter noted that the UCM team trains for excellence in academics, crime scene and firearms. “A lot of people are counting on us, who are financially backing our students but demand excellence in return.” The team has responded in true form. n
A M M U N I TI O N S U P P LY
Acquiring ammunition for the UCM criminal justice championship team requires planning, first to estimate the supply of bullets needed, then to get the funding and next to place the order. Bullets for the team’s basic pistol, a 22 semi-automatic pistol, is the most difficult to acquire.
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OP PORT UNI T Y G R A NT • D R. B HAT TA RA I
A MAP WITH A NEW VIEW AND OLD TIES Keshav Bhattarai brings international experience and technology to his 3-D project of campus and Warrensburg.
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M
ost of us think of maps as those bulky paper items that never refold to their original shape or a global positioning system whose directions are not always reliable. But to a cartographer, maps are complex, scientific tools that help people see the world in a variety of means. The study and practice of maps traces back to prehistoric carvings and through the eons has evolved, becoming both simpler and more sophisticated. Terminology is even changing. From a reference to geography, it’s now geospatial, linking the science to GIS and a three-dimensional view of the world, which prefaces the work of one University of Central Missouri professor and the students in eight of his geospatial courses. With funding from a UCM Foundation Opportunity Grant, Professor Keshav Bhattarai and his students intend to provide a new view of the campus and Warrensburg area. Buildings, homes, roads, even trees will be mapped using Google Earth with equipment funded through the grant. “Students have been doing similar work but have rarely been able to complete the detailed projects,” said Bhattarai. “One of the issues with mapping is to make maps seamlessly fit with the global map. This grant provides students with the equipment that allows them to develop that capability along with new 3D maps that will benefit visitors and help local and campus leaders determine the best infrastructure for future growth.” In addition to showing realistic three-dimensional detail, with a simple Google toggle, the maps will provide a time-lapse feature, featuring details of the area that date back to the late 1800s thanks to aerial
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maps originally taken by the military and archived by the department. One early 3-D mapping project of the class shows UCM’s Swisher Skyhaven Airport. This map at http://arcg.is/1LJ1Yc7 gives views by satellite imagery, topography, street level and terrain. To see their progress with a campus map, visit http://arcg.is/1Rh8wG4. “Students will map all individual houses, trees by both their Latin and English names, and the major roads of the city and campus,” Bhattarai said. “We also will eventually map the Lee’s Summit campus and surrounding areas.” He added they are grateful for the support from the Foundation and the donors’ unrestricted gifts that ultimately provide the funding. In his teaching and research career, the professor has done considerable 3-D mapping. His projects have included his native county of Nepal, where he’s used GIS and high-resolution remote sensing imagery to examine state restructuring based on ethnic groups. He’s also using GIS to analyze the environmental and economic impacts of broiler litter uses in Louisiana, the sustainability and environmental issues of biofuel energy, the rapid urban growth and vulnerability of developing countries, the spatial driving forces of deforestation in developing countries and crime mapping. “The practical applications of 3-D mapping are vast,” he said, “from supporting the economic development of a city to providing a better understanding of population growth, even how an area evolves over time. The practice of cartography has gone from ancient carvings to two-dimension to a three-dimensional space, making maps a whole new world to explore.” n
T O TAL LY DI F F E R E N T With Google Earth, a collection of aerial maps spanning the 20th century, and technology, Keshav Bhattarai and his geospatial students are showing campus and Warrensburg like never before. Click on the various tabs at http://arcg.is/1Rh8wG4 for their work at UCM’s
ILLUSTRATION BY DAVID BABCOCK
Swisher Skyhaven Airport.
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OP PORT UNI T Y G R A NT • MISSOURI P OL ICE ACA D EMY
REDMAN SUI T
Inside the RedMan suit ready for a practice session is Daniel Henry, a 2013 criminal justice alumnus from Osage Beach, MO, who graduated in December with a conditional offer from the Hannibal, MO, police department. With its extra hard plastic plates, soft foam rubber and wire mesh face mask, the RedMan suit allows hands-on simulation between cadets and would-be suspects in physical confrontations. A UCM Foundation Opportunity Grant funded the critical new equipment.
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REDMAN TRAINING SAVES LIVES W
hen Daniel Henry put on the RedMan suit, he knew what would happen next. Two of his classmates in the Central Missouri Police Academy would aggressively attack him, mimicking what could eventually become a real-life situation. This fall, the academy obtained critical new equipment for safer student training in defensive tactics. A UCM Foundation Opportunity Grant funded the purchase of a full instructor’s RedMan suit and 24 padded training batons. Unrestricted gifts from donors made the gift possible. “The RedMan Suit is crucial for optimal testing, training and evaluating the student’s ability to demonstrate mastery of defensive tactics techniques,” said Colin Comer, academy director. “The batons allow the dynamic simulation of street confrontations and are necessary for a safe training environment. We are grateful to receive this support and realize that it also is our generous donors whom we should thank.” Comer oversees the public safety professional training and certification programs that allow UCM to achieve its mission to meet the need for a highly trained workforce. “Many cadets can pass obstacle courses but can’t handle a more hand-to-hand or wrestling type situation. The RedMan suit gives them that realistic type of encounter.” During a recent training session, the scenario involved
an officer, patrolling alone who must apprehend a suspect after a lengthy foot pursuit. The suspect fled his vehicle during a traffic stop and wouldn’t stop when commanded. To simulate the realism of adrenaline and muscle fatigue, cadets performed push-ups, mountain climbers and jumping jacks prior to engaging the suspect. With its extra hard plastic plates wedged between soft foam rubber and enhanced head with wire mesh face mask, the RedMan suit can take considerable impact. “The batons and suit are what we consider an intermediate weapon,” said Comer. “You need something more when you can’t justify shooting, bare hands aren’t enough and they have to be stopped. Everyone thinks one blow will take down a suspect, and that’s not necessarily the case. The officer is working to stop and control; the suspect is working to crush, kill and destroy.” The academy is part of the Missouri Safety Center. It hosts three sessions a year, each with about 18 to 24 students. Comer estimates that each student will spend about 100 hours learning defensive tactics training with the RedMan Suit. Comer, a 1979 criminal justice alumnus, notes that UCM has a unique situation among Missouri’s police academies. “We are the only place in Missouri where you can get your bachelor’s, master’s and police academy certification all on the same campus without needing to go anywhere else.” n
Colin Comer notes UCM has a unique situation among the state’s police academies.
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IN TERACT I O NS
I came across one of your magazines and would like to receive a copy at my new address. I recently graduated and would love to keep up with the school! Thank you so much. – Jonathan Ellis Thought you might be interested in an interview I did with Seattle City Arts Magazine about a short film I created. The link is http:// cityartsonline.com/articles/rocket-acclaim. – Wade Chitwood ’85 Editor’s Note: CityArts reports that Chitwood went back to the future when he co-wrote, directed, edited and created digital effects for “Rocket Man and the Aerial Fortress,” a period spoof of classic cliffhanger serials. The movie screened this summer at Worldcon, the international sci-fi convention responsible for awarding the prestigious Hugo Awards, and won Best Short Film from the Accolade Global Film Competition, a renowned online film jury. Chitwood has become established as a digital effects artist, most notably through his work on “Zombies of Mass Destruction” and “Junk.” He is pitching the short film for a possible TV series. Love the new magazine layout! Nicely done! I was trying to listen to the audio interview but couldn’t locate it. Could you direct me to it? – Sheryl Curp Franke FYI, I have tried numerous times to access this to read it and can’t get past page 1 or the font is too small to read and I can’t enlarge it. I’m not the most computer literate person but not stupid. Seems this needs fixing! – Russell Krohn Frankly, I hate the new online format. You’ve succeeded in creating the opposite of “userfriendly,” so perhaps it’s “user-hostile.” So very inconvenient to constantly enlarge, diminish, move left, move right. Could not use entire screen because of the other mag ads featured below. Blah, blah. Not worth the effort to elaborate further. – Pamela Davidson
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WE INVITE
your thoughts and responses about our stories, photos, graphics or any other aspect of our magazine. Let us know about stories you would like to see in future issues. We want our magazine to be your favorite! Just email ucmmagazine@ucmo.edu. These responses came from emails.
I received a digital copy of the UCM Magazine on my computer today. On the initial page, the message talked about some of the changes in the magazine and then it had a note that stated “Click here to start reading...” However, after I clicked on that link I did not get to “start reading.” After linking to the new page, which showed a copy of the cover of the magazine, there were no instructions concerning how to “start reading,” and when I clicked on some of the tools, all they did was try to get me to open an account with this “Issuu” outfit, which I do not wish to do as every time I open such an account, it translates into getting involuntarily added to new mailing lists, so I have no intention of opening such an account. Will you continue to send hard copies to my home? – B.J. Page I am confused about the punctuation in your email. Do they not teach grammar at UCM anymore? And this ISSUU thing: what is it? I still cannot bring up or read the UCM magazine. Please enlighten me. What I often
tell people who are not sure how to punctuate a sentence is this: rewrite so the original punctuation is not necessary, as I did. I used to write for CEMOST. Do you know what that was? I’ve had a few short stories published by Alfred Hitchcock, w-a-a-a-y back! I used to blog regularly for a local newspaper and I do some wine writing here and there. I also proofread for friends, for any not-for-profit organization that wants it and for a local magazine. After high school I went to the U. of Iowa at Iowa City for two years. (SUI in those days.) I took their entrance exams and was told I had the highest score in grammar that they’d ever seen! : ) If you go to http://www. wenatcheeworld.com/blogs/living-well/, you can see some of my blogs for the “Wenatchee World.” We have no “big city” papers here, as we live about 120 miles east of Seattle, surrounded by mountains, orchards, snow, rock climbers, kayakers, hikers...and did I mention orchards? I believe this area grows more pears than anywhere else in the country and a bazillion apples, too. And now I will try to bring up the magazine again! Oh, in CEMOST, I was Joanne Sebben. – Joanne D. Saliby
EDITOR’S NOTE: We received several emails from readers having problems with our online magazine format, published on Issuu. We agree that it isn’t the best format but it works on all tablets and mobile units and the price is right (free to our office). In 2016, we hope to revamp our online format so it’s more user-friendly on tablets and all mobile devices. If you have online magazines that you really like, let us know about them.
CLAS S NOT ES
1970–1979 Dave Bauer ’75 recently retired in Thousand Oaks, CA, after 41 years in aviation, split between the U.S. Navy and Alaska Airlines. He keeps busy traveling the western United States and Alaska.
1980–1989 Kevin Jones ’81 has joined the faculty of Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, MO, as an associate professor of physical therapy. Shahid Hussain ’84 has joined Iowa Wesleyan University as assistant professor of accounting and finance. Previously he
Cheryl (Bevard) McElroy ’83 married Todd Bevard on Oct. 3, 2015. Curt Roberts ’85 is a captain at Delta Air Lines, based in Minneapolis and resides in Scottsdale, AZ. Shawn Roney ’89, ’98 has a company called Mutt Media in Richmond, MO. Mo-Mutt Music is an imprint of that company. He has launched a Web series on Mo-Mutt Music’s official YouTube channel, “What’s New With ...,” featuring original, mostly improvised tunes performed by music projects and collectives he has helped establish. So far, the webisodes feature music from Sacred & Secular, a collection designed to encourage
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served in various capacities in Big 4 Public Accounting firms and later in industry at various senior level positions.
interfaith and interracial musical collaboration. Musician Jeff McFadden does the videography and Shawn does the editing.
Julia Merritt Kelly ’84, ’87, ’94 retired in June after a 27-year career with the Lee’s Summit R-7 School district. She was a business education instructor, starting at Lee’s Summit High School for seven years, opening Lee’s Summit North and teaching there for 10 years, and closing out her career at Lee’s Summit West for 10 years. She and her husband, Bob, have two daughters: Katie Kelly, 23, and Allison Kelly, 21, who will graduate from UCM in May.
Chris Welch ’83 has been hired by Southwest Baptist University as associate director of admissions at the school’s campus in Salem, MO.
2000–2009 Kelly Spiller ’01 ’03 is the founder and owner of Professional Hearing Center Inc. of Belton, MO. It brings professional, clinically based hearing related treatments
UCM GRADUATES COMPLETE LARGEST PROJECT EVER LIKE MANY CENTRAL MISSOURI couples, Zelia Zulauf, then of rural Tipton, and Howard Bell, from newly incorporated Raytown, met each other as students on campus. It was the early 1950s. The two music majors worked student jobs, earned academic honors and were involved in many activities. When they graduated, Zelia in 1952 and Howard in 1953, their lives became a whirlwind of music, teaching, family and military service. In their 62 years of marriage, that pace hasn’t slowed. Both taught in various schools in various states. In Missouri, that includes Kemper Military at Boonville, Marshall and Raytown. There were marching, concert, and community bands and church choirs. In a 2,400 word history they wrote of their lives, Zelia taught mathematics for 20 years, while Howard’s story touches countless aspects of music, including performer, teacher, conductor, organizer and author. He helped to organize the Missouri Bandmaster Association, started youth city symphony orchestras, hosted the first reunion of UCM music alumni and formed a “Golden Chorus,” and once guestconducted TubaChristmas. Music hasn’t been the only interest in these two entrepreneurs’ lives. They have sold real estate. They founded a business to distribute a multivitamin Howard formulated that led to an award-winning pamphlet for mothers about nutrition. A post-retirement hobby collecting cuff links led to a book in 1994 that is still a guide for collectors. They auditioned, rehearsed and organized a 26-day European tour of “The Music Man,” traveling with a 97-member cast, costumes and sets. Howard’s latest venture is entitled “Music and Musicians in the Schools, Churches and Community of Raytown, Missouri.” He is publishing the historical compilation of more than 1,500 pages as an eBook. He points to formation of the Raytown Juvenile Band in 1926, several high school state music titles and the Big Bands of the 1940s and 1950s. In all, he lists more than 6,000 students who excelled in music in Raytown. “Raytown deserves to be recognized for its leadership in music education and performance,” he said. “From the 1850s, the churches and schools have cultivated vocal and instrumental music.” It’s the largest project the two octogenarians have ever completed in their lives. “More has been omitted than recorded of the funny stories along the way but our lives together have certainly been an adventure,” Howard said.
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of Greater Kansas City, P.C. purchased Professional Hearing Center in August. The combined
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DREAM CAREER, NOW MISSOURI’S BEST
TEACHING IS A FAMILY TRADITION for Linda Glasgow. Two of her sisters and their husbands are teachers. So, for Glasgow, 30 years of teaching, including 29 in the Blue Springs District, aren’t out of the ordinary. This summer, though, was anything but ordinary for the UCM alumna when she was named the 2015-16 Missouri Teacher of the Year.
Melissa Felkner ’04 and Benjamin Cole were married May 30, 2015, in Joplin. Jeff Steadman ’07 has been living in Australia for the last six years, having completed his Ph.D. in geology at the University of Tasmania earlier this year. Prior to moving “down under,” Jeff also completed an M.S. in geology at Iowa State University in 2010. He now works as a research fellow
Roush, principal at Nowlin Elementary School in the Blue Springs district. “Linda is a veteran teacher, and a lot of times they are at the end of their career. But she is still just as invested now as the day she started.” During her tenure Glasgow has taught kindergarten through fourth grade including special education classes. Having a relationship with the students, Glasgow said, is the best part of the job. “Linda Glasgow has a unique thirst for learning and positively impacts students each and every year,” said Jim Finley, superintendent of the Blue Springs School District. “She is a leader, mentor and collaborator, and she inspires those around her through her example. The district is honored, proud and elated to have Linda on our team.”
“I played school and was always the teacher, volunteered to teach younger children at church, mothered my siblings and neighborhood children and worked at a childcare center in high school,” she said.
Glasgow, who is in her 30th year in education, is lauded by her peers for the ability to get the most out of students while sharing her knowledge with teachers and parents.
Glasgow received a Bachelor of Science in Education degree in 1984 and a Master of Science in Education degree in 1990 from UCM. She began her teaching career in 1984, joining the faculty of the Blue Springs School District in 1987.
“As I debriefed with those teachers (about the writing lab), they were in awe of the work Linda’s third graders were doing and grateful for the opportunity to learn from her,” said Kacey
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in geochemistry at the Centre for Ore Deposits and Exploration Science, University of Tasmania, assisting mining companies around the world in their search for new resources of gold, silver, copper and other strategic metals vital to global civilization. Katie Kirchmer ’05 married Jonny Collier July 3, 2015, in Ste. Genevieve Catholic Church with a reception in St. Charles, MO. They live in St. Charles where Katie teaches early childhood special education.
JOIN US IN
2016 TO
DISCOVER THE WORLD
The third grade teacher at John Nowlin Elementary School knew at an early age what she wanted to become.
“Truly, I know that I am blessed to have the career of my dreams and to participate in the miraculous journey of each school year,” Glasgow said. “I am overwhelmed with emotion and I love that this reflects positively on the Kansas City area, my district and my school.”
This unique ability was on display last school year when Glasgow invited other teachers to visit her classroom during an English language arts writing lab she conducted.
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the University of Kansas and Missouri State University.
“I am a proud UCM alum,” she said. “In the education program, I gained the knowledge and skills necessary for a successful career in teaching. I was inspired by instructors who modeled professionalism and a love of learning. I enjoyed my time at UCM, and I know my life is enriched, not only by the education I received, but also by the friendships I made.”
LEARN ABOUT
UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES AT UCMO.EDU/TRAVEL.
CLAS S NOT ES
DON’T LEAVE MO
HOME ALONE
As you travel, be sure to take our Flat MO with you. He’s ready for new adventures in his new student-designed outfit. Use #FlatMO when you share your photos on our Facebook page at /UCMAlumniAssociation. Oh, the places you’ll go when you take along MO.
Awards & Honors Larry “Bo” Bossaller ’65 was inducted into the RE/MAX Hall of Fame in 2014 for earning over $1,000,000 in real estate commissions. Less than 20 percent of all RE/MAX agents receive this award. Luke Stephens ’92 was named as one of the “Best Managers In Radio” in a recent issue of “Radio Ink” magazine. Luke currently manages two radio stations in the Jacksonville, FL area. Ryan Cook ’00, ’01 has been selected by the National Academy of Public Accounting Professionals as one of the 2015 Top 10 Public Accounting Professional Rising Stars in Missouri. He is the president and CEO of Ryan S. Cook, which he has owned and operated for 13 years in Clinton, MO. Cook has served as a member of the Missouri State Board of Accountancy, the Continuing Professional Education Committee and Accountancy Licensee Database CPAverify Committee of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy. He also has served as president of the Clinton Rotary Club. Top 10 selections are nominated by their industry peers or satisfied clients. Criteria includes education, years of experience, areas of expertise, certifications, publications, awards, leadership and client satisfaction. Kristin (Anderson) Swisher ’06 was inducted into the Revere High School Athletic Hall of Fame in Bath, OH. She was a four-year letter winner in cross country and track and also lettered in swimming while in high school. She earned NCAA All-American honors seven times and captured two national championships while at UCM. She was inducted into the Central Missouri Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012 and went on to run for the USA Track and Field team, highlighted by finishing as a runner-up in the 2006 USA outdoor steeplechase. Daniel Meyer ’15, owner of Pi Services won third place in the open class of the MADE in Missouri State Entrepreneurship Competition this summer in Sedalia. The annual event is sponsored by the Missouri Alliance for the Development of Entrepreneurship. Finalists are judged on completed business plans and financial projections after having made a trade show style presentation to judges on their products and services. Pi Services is a startup phase for a tax and bookkeeping service for independent drivers and operators.
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IN M E MO R I A M
1940-1949
Martha Brown
Thomas “Clayton” Perry ’49
Martha (Burford) Brown, 78, of Warsaw, MO, died Friday, Dec. 4, 2015, at her home. She was born Oct. 6, 1937, the daughter of James William and Suzanna Irene Burford. She grew up near Leeton and graduated from Leeton High School in 1956, after which she came to UCM where she received a bachelor of science in education. In 1958, she married Kenneth Brown, a 1961 alumnus. They lived in Warrensburg and moved to Warsaw in 1960 where they had a son, Bart. Her parents, two brothers, husband and son preceded her in death. Martha was employed for a short time at the Osage Valley Bank. She also taught preschool for several years. She was active in the Warsaw community, volunteering for the chamber, parks department and Heritage Days celebration. She is survived by one sister, Sarah Phillips and her husband Thomas, of Leeton and several nieces and nephews. Memorials are suggested to the Bart Brown Scholarship Fund, through the UCM Foundation, Smiser Alumni Center, Warrensburg, MO 64093 or at ucmo.edu/giveonline.
1950-1959 Carlos Kays ’50 Robert A. Roberge ’54 Monte Cass ’58
1960-1969 Thomas Bickham ’65 David Borresen ’69 Jimmie Fast ’69
1970-1979 Terry Abney ’72 John R. Haan ’77
1980-1989 Nancy Walker ’80 William “Bill” Perry ’81 Jenese Guthrie Krysa ’88
1990-1999 Troy Jordan ’93
2000-2009 Paul Alexander ’04
Former Students Yael Franklin Jackson Clyde Harper
College High Karl Jokubeit ’53
EDITOR’S UPDATE:
We received word right before publishing this issue of the deaths of emeriti members Myron “Mike” Carter, who helped to found the university’s health and fitness programs, and Carl Foster, who started the university’s pubic relations office. Watch for their obituaries in our next issue.
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Harold Caskey Harold Caskey, 77, retired Missouri state senator, died Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015, from Parkinson’s disease. The 1960 alumnus was a veteran member of the Missouri General Assembly, winning election to seven terms representing Senate District 31. During his 28 years in the Senate, he sponsored and passed 327 pieces of legislation into law. Caskey was legally blind since the first grade from an inherited retina condition. Because of his blindness, he could not perform many everyday tasks, such as driving, reading and recognizing friends except by their voices. Being blind added to Caskey’s tenacity in life and as a legislator. He was a high achiever in school, attending public elementary and secondary schools in Bates County and serving as senior class valedictorian. He graduated magna cum laude with dual majors in psychology and sociology from UCM. He then earned a law degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he was among that class’ top 10 graduates. Caskey practiced law in the office of then State Senator William Cason in Clinton. He opened his
Vol. 15, No. 2 | ucmo.edu/ucmmagazine
own law practice in Butler in 1965. He served as city attorney for the communities of Butler and Rich Hill. Elected to the Senate in 1976, Caskey never lost a bid for reelection to a four-year term. He was a loyal and trusted friend to UCM at the state capital. He supported legislation that secured funds for projects such as construction of the James C. Kirkpatrick Library and T.R. Gaines Technology Building as well as renovation of the Ward Edwards building. He sponsored protective legislation for children, SB 740 Children at Risk in Education, a landmark reconstruction of Missouri’s school funding formula and comprehensive education reform package. He helped end desegregation programs in Kansas City and St. Louis. He was a charter member of the Missouri Commission on Performance, which counseled the State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on education reform and school finance. He also co-chaired the Joint Task Force on Education Finance, which laid groundwork for passage of the 1993 Outstanding Schools Act, Senate Bill 380. That legislation provided the largest infusion of state public school funding in generations and mandated high standards for schools. Caskey received scores of honors for his accomplishments, including a UCM honorary doctorate in 2003. He also received tributes from the Missouri Planning Council for Developmental Disabilities, the Public Telecommunications Association of Missouri, Missouri Deputy Sheriffs Association, Judicial Conference of Missouri, Missouri Association of Counties, Missouri Association of Pharmacists, Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, Missouri Cable Television Association, Missouri Crime Commission, Missouri Police Chiefs’ Association, the American Business Women’s Association and the Cooperating School Districts of Suburban Kansas City. He was born Jan. 3, 1938, in Hume, MO, to James Alfred Caskey, a coal mine foreman, and Edith Irene Anderson Caskey. He married Marjorie Swaidner in 1962 in Macon, MO; she preceded him in death. In 1974, he married Dorenda Kathryn “Kay” Head who survives. Other survivors include a son Kyle; sister Velma Elaine May of Lansing, KS; brothers Robert Caskey of Ozark, MO; Leon Caskey (Shirley) of Clinton, MO; and Ray Lee Caskey (Jeri Leigh) of Alton, MO; brothers-in-law Glenn Head of Novelty, MO; and Neal Head (Debbie) of Osage Beach, MO; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Memorials are suggested to the Harold Caskey Scholarship, through the UCM Foundation, Smiser Alumni Center, Warrensburg, MO 64093 or online at ucmo.edu/giveonline.
I N M EM OR I AM
Douglas Couch
She was a 60-year member of the Carnegians and served as president from 1986 to 1987. She was instrumental in funding a scholarship endowment at the university with the Carnegians. She also helped to establish a partnership with Dale Carnegie Associates, leading to new curriculum, a bronze bust of Carnegie on the campus quadrangle and a student association. Jane is preceded in death by her parents and nine siblings. Survivors include nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. Memorials are suggested to the Carnegians and Dale Carnegie Scholarship, UCM Foundation, Smiser Alumni Center, Warrensburg MO 64093 or online at ucmo.edu/giveonline.
Douglas Couch, a 1994 UCM alumnus and long-time student academic advisor, died Monday, Oct. 12, 2015, of pancreatic cancer. Born in 1946, he graduated from Rockhurst College in 1968, after which he worked in advertising sales. He later decided to change careers and pursued a master’s degree in student personnel administration from UCM and a doctorate of education from the University of Kansas. He worked 15 years as an academic advisor at Maple Woods Community College and at UCM. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves and was a state certified referee in high school soccer and basketball. Survivors include his wife, Peggy, and their children: Matthew Couch (Laura), Jill Raiford (Craig), Nathan Couch (Kelley), and Lauren Slocum (David) and 11 grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters Laurie Johnson (Randy), Leslie Shapiro (Charlie), Julianne Couch (Ron Hansen), and nieces and nephews.
Darlene Mawson Helman Nora “Darlene” (Mawson) Helman, a 1962 alumna and identical twin of Marlene Mawson, died Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015, in Independence, MO. The seventh daughter of Chester A. and Leeta Maude Mawson, she was born July 30, 1940, near Archie, MO. Darlene married Lance E. Helman in 1975. Helman graduated from UCM as a music major with a B.S. in Education and later received a M.S. of Music Education from
Jane Cyva Hedwig “Jane” Cyva, 96, of Houston, Texas, died Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015. She was the oldest member of the Carnegians, a worldwide group of alumni who took the Dale Carnegie course. She was born in Sheldon, Texas, on April 6, 1919, to Katherine Kosh and Joseph Cyva.
the University of Colorado. Her professional educational career spanned 33 years of teaching middle-school music, guitar and choir in the Independence, MO, Public School District. She received many teaching honors, including being named Outstanding Secondary Teacher in the district. She was a lifetime member of the Missouri State Teachers Association and was named an Outstanding Educator of America. She was active in Delta Kappa Gamma, an international honor society for women educators, and had served as Missouri State President, Southwest Regional Convention Chair, Southwest Regional Choir Director, International Music Chair, Choir Director and Handbell Choir director, as well as other offices and leadership positions. She was given the prestigious DKG Missouri State Achievement Award in 1993 and was recipient of the DKG Golden Gift national scholarship for leadership management in 1999. She arranged, composed and published numerous choral compositions for church and DKG Conventions. As a member of the Independence Symphony Board of Directors, she implemented the symphony’s annual Young Artist Competition. Memorials are suggested to the Darlene Mawson Helman Music Education Scholarship established in her honor in 2014 by her twin sister, Marlene. Contributions may be sent to the UCM Foundation, Smiser Alumni Center, Warrensburg MO 64093 or online at ucmo.edu/giveonline.
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University of Central Missouri Magazine
31
IN M E MO R I A M
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Harry “Terik” Keller
Carol Pendleton
Harry Lee “Terik” Keller, Jr., 58, of Warrensburg, a custodian for the university, died Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015, in Kansas City. He was born Nov. 6, 1956, in New Jersey, the son of Harry Lee Keller, Sr. and Nettie Alva (Wright) Keller. He graduated from Malcom X Shebezz High School in Newark, NJ, in 1974. From 1974 to 1976, he was employed as a machinist at New Jersey Brass and Aluminum followed for three years at Rockwell International. He also worked as a security specialist in law enforcement with the U.S. Air Force, from which he retired in 1999 with the rank of staff sergeant. He worked at Enersys Manufacturing until 2006. He was married to Lisa Suzette Hammons in 2006; she survives. Other survivors include daughters Aisha Keller of Warrensburg and Krystle Moon of Peculiar, MO; son Joshua Moon of Phoenix; three grandchildren and his mother-in-law Anna Hammons of Warrensburg, MO.
Carol Dian Pendleton, a longtime supporter of the university, died Dec. 6, 2015. She was born April 11, 1933, to A.A. “Jack” and Mabel Jones Frost in the Lake of the Ozarks community. The family moved to Warrensburg in 1939 where she graduated from Warrensburg High School in 1951. She received a bachelor’s degree in music education from UCM in 1954. She met Jim Pendleton her junior year when he escorted her to the Rhetor Ball and she was voted queen. They married June 11, 1955. After graduation she enjoyed a career as a flight attendant for TWA, in addition to teaching schools in Leawood, KS, and Baltimore, MD. In the 1980s, she joined her husband and their three children to form Pendleton Enterprises, a company that specialized in investments and property management. In addition to her alma mater, she was a volunteer with Young Matrons, TWA Clipped Wings, Community Children’s Theater and the American Royal. She also organized and chaired several local and state political campaigns, served on the Prairie Village City Council for nine years, and was co-owner of Lady Bug Gift shops in Cornith and Red Bridge. The Pendletons have been particularly supportive of the university’s athletics and accounting programs. Carol also was active in the “Golden Chorus” 1950s’ music alumni reunion and was a strong supporter of the university’s Department of Music and performing arts program. For their exemplary service to UCM, the couple received the Distinguished Service Award in 2003. Survivors include her husband, Jim; children, Jim Jr., Jon and Melinda and their families; a sister-in-law and cousin. Memorials are suggested to the Department of Music through the UCM Foundation, Smiser Alumni Center, Warrensburg, MO 64093 or online at ucmo.edu/online.
Fred Koenig
Are you looking for ways to minimize taxes and maximize not just your monetary gain but the
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Vol. 15, No. 2 | ucmo.edu/ucmmagazine
Fred Carl Koenig, 81, of Warrensburg, died Sunday, Aug. 30, 2015, at Country Club Care Center. He was born Feb. 18, 1934, in Higginsville, the son of Fred Andrew and Frances (Dennis) Koenig. He graduated from Higginsville High School in 1951 and attended then Central Missouri State College. Koenig worked as an electronics repairman and was the owner and operator of B&K TV Repair Service in Warrensburg from 1957 to 1992. Survivors include his children, Jo Schmidt and husband, Peter, of Columbia; Jess Koenig and wife, Karen, of Odessa; Jim Koenig and wife, Mary, of Raytown; Julie Greenwood and husband, Rob, of Warrensburg; Noel Moore of Rose Hill, KS; seven grandchildren and one great-grandson. Memorials are suggested to the Ruthe Boles Koenig Scholarship Fund or the Ginni Koenig Scholarship Fund through the UCM Foundation, Smiser Alumni Center, Warrensburg, MO 64093 or online at ucmo.edu/giveonline.
I N M EM OR I AM
Vicki Straub Vicki D. Wickman Straub, 71, a 1966 alumna from Columbia, MO, died Monday, Sept. 28, 2015. She was nationally known for the behavioral medicine training program for resident physicians she developed at the University of Missouri. She was born March 23, 1944, in Lebanon, MO, to Carl and Kathleen Builderback Wickman. She married James Straub on Dec. 28, 1970, who survives. She earned a BA from the University of Central Missouri, an MS from the University of Missouri, an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis and a doctorate from the University of Arizona, Tucson. She and James opened the first full-time private psychological center in Columbia in 1976. She later joined the MU Department of Family and Community Medicine and developed a nationally known behavioral medicine training program for residents. Over the years she helped residents gain knowledge and skill in working with patients through formal and informal teaching and as the attending faculty for the Family Medicine Stress Clinic. She retired as an associate professor. Survivors include a son, Jason Straub of Columbia; daughter Kirsten Straub Marshall (husband, John) of Columbia; grandchildren Aleda and Loretta Marshall; brothers Kevin and Ken Wickman (wife, Melinda) and nephew, Carl Wickman, all of St. Louis.
Lorena Swisher Lorena Pryor Swisher, 85, the wife of Max Swisher, died Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015. She was born June 5, 1930, to Tipton and Adah Belle Smith Pryor near Higginsville. She attended country grade schools in Johnson County, graduating eighth grade at Cornelia Grade School. She graduated from College High School and attended then Central Missouri State College in 1948. In 1951, she married Max B. Swisher, near where he was stationed with the Army at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD. His death preceded hers by two weeks. She worked at F. W. Woolworth 5 &10 Cent Store, Town & Country Shoe Factory, Missouri Public Service, the Office of Aberdeen Proving Grounds Commanding Officer, Secretary of Whiteman Air Force Base Commanding Officer, Swisher Mower and Machine Co. and
volunteer positions for numerous nonprofit and charity organizations. She also volunteered for the Jaycee Ettes, American Legion Auxiliary, Bowling Club and Hospital Guild. She was active in the Arts, Books and Crafts Club and was a life member of the Beta Sigma Phi international organization. She helped to establish a new home for the developmentally disabled in Warrensburg.
MAX AND LORENA SWISHER
She also was a longtime active member in the Johnson County Republican Women’s Club. In 1997 she was honored with the Women of Tribute Award. She is survived by a daughter Marcy Ann Erickson (husband, Dick); son Jerry Swisher (wife, Cindy); son Wayne Swisher (wife, Kelly); brothers Donald and Gene Pryor; sister May Goodwin, four grandchildren and two great-grandsons. Memorials are suggested to benefit the Swisher Skyhaven Airport, UCM Foundation, Smiser Alumni Center, Warrensburg, MO 64093.
Max Swisher Max Boothe Swisher, 87, whose gift of an airport began what is now considered the university’s internationally renowned aviation program, died Friday, Oct. 30, 2015. He was born April 19, 1928, in rural southeast Johnson County, MO, the son of Henry Samuel Swisher and Blanche Boothe Swisher. He grew up on the family farm during the Depression, learning all types of skills from both parents. He learned early what hard work and long hours were and will be remembered for his generosity, extraordinary mechanical design abilities, business savvy, quick wit, great sense of humor and farm smart approach to life. He attended country grade school until sixth grade and then attended Leeton grade
school where he continued through high school. He attended Central Missouri State College in 1946-47, taking industrial and mechanical classes, then took a job at Goodall Manufacturing in Warrensburg. Swisher became interested in the lawnmower business and decided to build a lawnmower incorporating his ideas in the machine shop at his family’s farm. The first mower he developed and patented was a selfpropelled rotary walk-behind mower with unique maneuvering capabilities. A few years later, he developed and patented a riding mower incorporating similar maneuverability and coined the description “zero-turning-radius.” Both his zero-turn mowers were first to market and decades before their concepts became an industry standard. Today, the “zero-turningradius” term is used throughout the mower industry and represents a major category in total mower sales. He pioneered several other products including pull behind ATV mowers, convertible string trimmer mowers, solar composters and more. In 1951, Max was drafted into the Army during the Korean War and served two years as a cadre leader. He married Lorena Pryor in 1951; her death followed his by two weeks. In 1952, he incorporated Swisher Mower and Machine Co. and purchased the buildings that housed the former Roseland Meat Packing Co. at 333 E. Gay. He moved the operation to this location and operated there until moving to the industrial park in 1999. The company sold products around the world and employed over 600 people at its peak. In 1968, he donated SkyHaven Airport to the university. UCM honored Swisher by renaming the airport after him in 1993. Swisher was a serial entrepreneur and businessman who started and helped many other businesses get established. He was a board member of the Chamber of Commerce and a member of the American Legion and Elks Club. He served as a member of the Warrensburg City Council from 1980 to 1986. He is survived by a daughter Marcy Ann Erickson (husband, Dick); son Jerry Swisher (wife, Cindy); son Wayne Swisher (wife, Kelly); four grandchildren and two great-grandsons. His brother, Jean Edwin, preceded him in death; another brother, Ray, survives. Memorials are suggested to benefit the Swisher Skyhaven Airport, UCM Foundation, Smiser Alumni Center, Warrensburg, MO 64093.
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