Notable Alumni of Missouri Southern State University
Missouri Southern State University (MSSU), located in Joplin, Missouri, has a rich history and a diverse array of accomplished alumni who have made significant contributions in various fields. From professional athletes to astronauts and actors, MSSU has fostered talent and prepared individuals for success. This article will explore some of the university's most notable graduates and their achievements.
From Joplin Junior College to Missouri Southern State University
Missouri Southern State University was established as Joplin Junior College in 1937. The college was initially overseen by the University of Missouri’s extension division, with H.E. Blaine appointed as its first dean. In 1964, it was renamed Jasper County Junior College. A new 320-acre campus was opened in 1967 under the supervision of the first president, Dr. Leon C. Billingsly. The institution became Missouri Southern State College in 1972 and finally achieved university status in 2003, adopting its current name.
Located in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains, MSSU boasts a picturesque campus comprising numerous administrative, academic, and recreational buildings. The Spiva Library, the campus’ first building, houses an extensive collection of books and archives. Reynolds Hall is home to the departments of chemical and physical sciences, biology, environmental health, and mathematics. Hearnes Hall serves as the main administrative building. The Fine Arts Building accommodates the art and music departments and the Spiva Gallery. Other key buildings include the Billingsly Student Center, Kuhn Hall, Ummel Technology Center, Mills Anderson Justice Center, and Julio S. Leon Health Sciences Center. Jeremiah "Jay" Nixon Hall opened in 2019 and is used for mathematics and other STEM fields.
MSSU serves over 5,000 students in more than 140 academic programs. The university prides itself on its diverse student body, including many international students, and its distinguished faculty, maintaining a student-faculty ratio of 19:1. The university also hosts a wide array of student organizations that facilitate various extracurricular activities.
Alumni in Professional Sports
MSSU has produced several successful athletes who have excelled in professional sports.
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Allen Barbre
Allen Barbre is one such alumnus who has made a name for himself as a professional football player in the National Football League (NFL).
Richard Jordan
Richard Jordan is another professional footballer who has played in the NFL, adding to the university's reputation for producing talented athletes.
Baseball Standouts
The Missouri Southern State University baseball program started in 1965. Interestingly, two former Missouri Southern State University ballplayers made it to the majors, both were pitchers, and no former MSSU Lion position player has yet to reach the big leagues.
One of the pitchers is Logan VanWey. According to MSSU Head Coach Bryce Darnell, "I saw Logan (VanWey) pitch two or three times while in high school. He was just different. The ball came out of his hand different. It had something on it that other pitchers didn't have, you could tell. He had a real ability to strike people out. Initially, Logan was unsure about playing in college. In fact, I feel like he had his mind made up he wasn't going to do it. He had a change of heart, and we're sure glad he did." Vaughan, Trey of the Joplin Globe Staff Writer, reported on VanWey, once unsure about college baseball, now with Astros.
Notable Figures in Arts and Entertainment
MSSU alumni have also achieved recognition in the arts and entertainment industry.
Read also: Explore Lincoln University's legacy
Lonny Chapman
Lonny Chapman was a popular actor known for appearing on several drama series broadcasted on television.
J. Eddie Peck
J. Eddie Peck is a famous actor best known for playing the role of Jake Martin in ‘All My Children’ and Cole Howard in ‘The Young and the Restless’.
Accomplished Scientists and Innovators
MSSU has produced graduates who have made significant contributions to the field of science and technology.
Janet L. Kavandi
Janet L. Kavandi is an astronaut at NASA and a scientist currently serving as the NASA Glenn Research Center’s Director. Her work in space exploration and scientific research has brought prestige to the university.
Leaders in Education and Coaching
Bob Beatty
Bob Beatty coaches the football team Trinity Shamrocks.
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Leaders in Politics and Public Service
Gary Nodler
Gary Nodler used to be a Missouri State Senator.
Campus Facilities and Their Namesakes
Missouri Southern’s campus includes several buildings named after individuals who have played significant roles in the university’s history.
Spiva Library
Spiva Library (opened in 1967) was the first building built on the current campus. The library is named after prominent Joplin businessman George A. Spiva (1904-1967), who was a major donor and supporter of the school. Expansions to the library in 1972-1973 and 1999-2000 have tripled the size of the original structure.
Reynolds Hall
Reynolds Hall (opened in 1967) is named after one of the original members of the school's board of regents, Lauren R. Reynolds (1916-1968). He served on the board from 1965 until his death. This building houses the biology and environmental health, chemical and physical sciences, and mathematics departments.
Hearnes Hall
Hearnes Hall (opened in 1967) is named after former Missouri Governor Warren E. Hearnes (1923-2009) who was governor at the time of the construction of the campus and signed the law which made Missouri Southern a state institution. Hearnes Hall is the university's administration building.
Fine Arts Building
Fine Arts Building (opened in 1967) is the home to the music and art departments.
Leon C. Billingsly Student Center
Leon C. Billingsly Student Center (opened in 1969) is named after the first president of what was then Missouri Southern College, Leon C. Billingsly (1925-1978). Billingsly served in that capacity from 1964 until his death and supervised the construction of the original buildings on the campus. The building is home to the cafeteria, book store and Keystone and Connor ballrooms. Formerly known as the College Union, it was renamed for Billingsly in 1980, two years after his death. It has been expanded multiple times, the latest in 2009 when the George S.
Kuhn Hall
Kuhn Hall (opened in 1969) is named after John Raymond Kuhn (1902-1986) a Joplin area doctor who encouraged more practical application medical training at the college. It was originally home to the nursing (now in the Health Sciences Building) and computer science departments (now in Plaster Hall). Today it is home to the English department.
Ummel Technology Center
Ummel Technology Center (opened in 1971) is named for Elvin Byron Ummel (1922-1993), who served on the school's board of trustees from the 1964 to 1986, when that body was abolished.
Taylor Performing Arts Center
Thomas E. Taylor Performing Arts Center (opened in 1974) is named for former Missouri Southern board of regents member (1965-1974) and board of trustees member (1964-1975) Thomas E. Taylor (1902-1975). Congressman Gene Taylor (1928-1998).
Mills Anderson Justice Center
Mills Anderson Justice Center (opened in 1978) is named for former Missouri Southern board of regents (1965-1977) member Mills Anderson (1914-1999). It is home of the college's criminal justice department and law enforcement academy.
Plaster Hall
Plaster Hall (opened in 1980) is also known as the Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise Center and is named for Robert W. Plaster (1930-2008), a former Joplin Junior College student and the founder of Empire Gas. Formerly known as Matthews Hall and named after Norval M. Matthews (1895-1977), an original member of the school's board of regents from 1965 until his death, the building and the school of business, which has resided in it since its construction, were renamed after Plaster in 2006 when he made the largest donation in the college's history.
Webster Hall
Ralph L. Webster Hall (opened in 1992) is named for Richard M. Webster (1922-1990), a former speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives and a longtime state senator representing the area from 1962 until his death. The building cost $7.5 million at the time of its construction and is home to the social sciences, communications, foreign languages, and international studies departments. The W. Robert Corley Auditorium is located inside Webster Hall.
Bud Walton Black Box Theatre
Bud Walton Black Box Theatre (opened in 1999) is named for Bud Walton, brother of Walmart founder Sam Walton and a financial donor for the construction of the facility.
Leon Health Sciences Center
Julio S. Leon Health Sciences Center (opened in 2010) is named for Julio Leon, who served as the president of the university from 1982 to 2007.
Nixon Hall
Jeremiah "Jay" Nixon Hall (opened in 2019) is named for the 55th governor of Missouri Jeremiah "Jay" Nixon, who served from 2009 to 2017. Governor Nixon campaigned and received $5.2 million that was used to construct the hall and renovate the nearby Reynolds hall. Nixon hall is used for mathematics and other STEM fields. The building is three stories and houses staff offices, study rooms, and many classrooms.
Gray Alumni Center
The Ralph L. Gray Alumni Center (opened in 2011) is named after Ralph L. Gray, a major donor for the building's restoration. The building, also known as the Mission Hills mansion, is the oldest structure on campus, built in 1926 as the private home of Lucius Buchanan.
Former Campus Locations
Joplin Junior College at 4th Street & Byers Avenue
Joplin Junior College at 4th Street & Byers Avenue (1938-1959) was the first permanent home of the college (the year previously the college's courses were taught in the Joplin High School building at 8th Street and Wall Avenue). The building, which was originally constructed in 1897 and then nearly doubled in size in 1907, had previously served as the home of Joplin High School and later as North Junior High School before being renovated for use by the fledgling college.
Blaine Hall
Blaine Hall (1946-1959) was named after Harry E. Blaine, the dean of Joplin Junior College from 1937 to 1947. It is not to be confused with the dormitory on the current campus that is also named after Blaine. It was located in a formerly private residence that was near Joplin Junior College's first home at the corner of 4th Street and Byers Avenue. Blaine Hall acted as a student union and had a cafeteria and a student lounge.
Joplin Junior College/Jasper County Community College at 8th Street and Wall Avenue
Joplin Junior College/Jasper County Community College at 8th Street and Wall Avenue (1959-1967) was the second permanent home of what was then Joplin Junior College (though the first year the college had offered courses in 1937 those classes had also taken place in this building). During the time the college was in this building it was renamed Jasper County Community College.
The Barn Theatre
The Barn Theatre (1967-1990) was the first performing arts space on the current university campus. It had originally served as a dairy barn for the Mission Hills farm.
The Learning Center
The Learning Center (1967-2005) was renovated out of the shell of the former garage of the Mission Hills mansion.
The Guest House
The Guest House (1967-2005) had served as a guest house for the Mission Hills mansion when it was a private residence. But following the establishment of the university on its current campus, the school's newspaper, The Chart, had its offices in this building, though they were later moved to Hearnes Hall and are currently located inside Webster Hall.
Student Housing
The campus has two traditional dormitories, eight apartment-style housing complexes, and two suite-style dormitories. The dormitories are McCormick and Blaine Halls; the apartments are Gockel, Stegge, Dishman, Dryer, Stone, Headlee, Maupin, and Mitchell Halls; and the suite-style dorms are located in East Hall and The Quads. Also a part of the residence area of campus is the Mayes Student Life Center, which is home to the university's cafeteria, weight room, residence computer labs, and commons area. These dorms house about 600 students.
Blaine Hall
Blaine Hall (opened in 1971) is named after Harry E. Blaine (1873-1955), who served as the first dean of what was then Joplin Junior College from its opening in 1937 until his retirement in 1947.
McCormick Hall
McCormick Hall (opened in 1971) is named after Martha McCormick (1902-1987), who taught mathematics from 1939 to 1973 at what was first Joplin Junior College and then later Missouri Southern State College.
Dishman Hall
Dishman Hall (opened in 1980) is named after Darral Dishman (1936-1984), who started as an art professor at what was then Joplin Junior College in 1964. He later became head of the department and remained at the college until his death.
Dryer Hall
Dryer Hall (opened in 1980) is named after Lloyd L. Dryer (1911-1984), who was a professor of psychology at what was first Joplin Junior College and then Missouri Southern State College.
Gockel Hall
Gockel Hall (opened in 1980) is named after Harry Gockel (1902-1984), who started at what was then Joplin Junior College in 1939, just two years after its founding, and retired from the college in 1972. He was a professor of history, economics and geography. A bequest in his and his late wife's, Berniece Gockel (1911-1995), will provided the seed money for the university's annual Harry and Berniece Gockel International Symposium.
Headlee Hall
Headlee Hall (opened in 1980) is named after Cleetus Juanita Headlee (1911-2000), who from 1946 to 1976 was an English professor at what was then Joplin Junior College and later Missouri Southern State College. Between 1948 and 1967 she was the advisor for the college newspaper, The Chart.
Stegge Hall
Stegge Hall (opened in 1980) is named after Dudley Frank Stegge (1923-1992), who started at what was then Joplin Junior College in 1951 as a track and football coach. Stegge later served as dean of students from 1967 to 1969 and was the director of the Student Union, now Billingsly Student Center, from 1969 until his retirement in 1980.
Maupin Hall
Maupin Hall (opened in 1987) is named after Jim Maupin (1923-2006), who served as dean of technology at what was then Missouri Southern State College, retiring in 1992. He started his career with the college in 1954 teaching biology.
Mitchell Hall
Mitchell Hall (opened in 1987) is named after Grace Clayton Mitchell (1920-2006), a longtime English professor at what was first Joplin Junior College and later Missouri Southern State College. She first taught at the school in 1946 and after taking a break from teaching returned in 1958 and remained until retiring in 1981.
Stone Hall
Stone Hall (opened in 1991) is named after Dorothy Aleta Stone (1909-2001), who was a professor of business administration at what was first Joplin Junior College and then Missouri Southern State College from 1939 to 1975.
Mayes Student Life Center
Mayes Student Life Center (opened in 1993) is named for Dianne S. Mayes (1936-1995), a longtime supporter of the university.
East Hall
East Hall (opened in 2002) is the largest of the university's residential buildings.
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