Over its 100 years of existence, Missouri State has developed a rich heritage of outstanding faculty and staff who have contributed much to the success of our university.  The Wall of Fame, which is located outside the ballroom in the Plaster Student Union (3rd floor), is a designated location for the University to recognize and honor employees who have excelled at Missouri State and significantly contributed to the success and positive collegiate experience of students.  While Missouri State has had many outstanding employees during its long history, the intention of the Wall of Fame is to recognize those faculty and staff members whose impact on students is considered truly noteworthy.  The inaugural group of inductees was honored at a reception in the ballroom on Friday, November 15, 2002. 

A selection committee composed of students, faculty, staff and administrators will recommend recipients to the Missouri State Board of Governors at the Board's May 2010 meeting.    

Individuals selected for this honor will be based on the following criteria:

• Full-time employment with the University for a minimum of 10 years at any time in university history. 
• Service that has resulted in meaningful change at Missouri State.
• Individuals known and respected by various segments of the community.
• Continuous demonstration of character and integrity.
• Impact on students.
• Five years must have passed since the individual was last employed full time at Missouri State.
• Individuals who have been honored by naming of a facility (other than donors)  and Bronze Bear recipients will not be eligible for the Wall of Fame.
• 13 individuals were selected for the honor in the 2002 inaugural year. 
• In succeeding years selection will be limited to six individuals.
• No more than three candidates shall be selected from either faculty or staff nominees.  

Please complete the Nominate a Wall of Fame Candidate Online or print out and mail or fax the Wall of Fame nomination form (pdf)

Wall of Fame Honorees for 2009

Linda Dollar garnered much recognition for her 31 years of service to Missouri State University as an instructor, volleyball coach and assistant athletic director. Through her extraordinary coaching and team-building skills, Dollar took the volleyball Bears program to a new level. At the time of her retirement in 1995, Dollar was second in the number of wins of any coach in women’s college volleyball history. Beyond that, her players recognize the skills she honed in them – not only as athletes, but as members of their communities. Dollar is still devoted to the Bears: she takes time to volunteer on the First Serve Committee and supports the volleyball Bears both on and off the floor.

After serving his country in World War II, Wensey Marsh enrolled in Missouri State University in 1946 – under the G.I. bill – and graduated an astounding 28 months later. In 1957, he returned to his alma mater to begin his service there as placement director. In this position for 27 years, he assisted in recruitment activities and in career placement for graduating students. Dedicated to his fellow staff and faculty, Wensey also worked at developing a campus-wide salary and job description classification, which led to a complete personnel classification system. Wensey took great pride in his career and in helping people find satisfaction in theirs.

Great leadership through times of unprecedented growth characterizes John Schatz’s tenure at Missouri State University. Schatz served as a faculty member in the agriculture department for 37 years, developing curriculum, advising and challenging students, contributing to many campus events, conducting research and participating in the development of the William H. Darr Agricultural Center and the National Association of College Teachers of Agriculture. From 1968-1980, Schatz headed the department, and his imprint can still be seen in the department and on the students he helped – many who have become successful in the horticulture industry.

Dr. Genevieve (Genny) Cramer, professor emeritus of the graduate reading program, exemplified the public affairs mission before the university had even adopted it. Her 27 years at Missouri State University were filled with chairing programs, departmental and college committees and task forces, teaching students, and enthusiastically promoting the reading program. With this intense passion for reading, she also regularly volunteered for organizations helping individuals learn the basics of reading – something she continues to do to this day which provides invaluable service to the community. The impact she had on the university and community is immense and tangible: she donated hundreds of books and journals to the graduate reading program library.

The College of Business Administration, where Ralph Williams served as dean from 1979-1989, is now the largest business college in Missouri – and much of the initial growth is due to the dedication of Williams. He led through many major changes: the shift from the School of Business to COBA, the reorganization of departments, the expansion of curriculum and faculty, the planning of Glass Hall, the establishment of a sister city relationship with Isesaki, Japan, and the push toward complying with the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) – an accreditation that became official shortly after he stepped down as dean. Until 1998, he taught in the management department, sharing his knowledge and passion for empowering individuals, innovating and leading organizations.

Milton Rafferty leads by example. During his 24 years as department head of geography, geology and planning at Missouri State University, he served on committees, conducted research, published articles and books, and conducted business in an open door manner – all the things he expected out of his faculty members. He united a department that housed experts in a wide spectrum of subjects and elevated it from only two undergraduate programs to five with an interdisciplinary graduate program. With a total of 30 years at Missouri State, Milton became an expert on the Ozarks region and published the quintessential book on the area, “Ozarks Land and Life” in 1980; and he continues to travel and speak at conferences around the country.

The 2009 class of inductees will be honored during a special ceremony at 3:30 p.m. October 30 in the Plaster Student Union, Ballroom West. The event is open to the public.

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Past Honorees

2008
Dr. Robert H. Bradley	Dr. Russell Keeling	John Province
Dr. Russell Rhodes	Lois Tooley

2007
Dr. William Jack Bush	Gene T. Ellis	R. Todd Morriss
Olan Oatman	Dr. Orin Robinson

2006
Dr. Kenneth Brown	Ralph K. Manley	Grace B. Palmer
Dr. J. N. Smith	Dr. Robert "Bob" Trewatha	Max A. Wood

2005
Dr. Herbert J. Arkebauer	Dr. Don Landon	Edward Pierce
Dr. Vernon Renner	Robert Scott	Dr. Bernice Warren

Centennial Class
Florence Baker Bugg	Dr. Walter O. Cralle	Joseph Daniel Delp
Hiland D. Kelley	Clayton P. Kinsey	M.A. O'Rear
Margaret Julietta Putnam	Deborah D. Weisel	Dr. Harry Arthur Wise

2004
Dr. James Bane	Dr. John"Bill" Northrip	Dr. Paul Redfearn
Dr. Thomas Stombaugh	William Thomas	Dr. Thomas Wyrick

2003
Edgar Albin	Dr. Vencil Bixler	Maurice "Gene" Edwards	Judy Ann Geisler
Dr. Roar Irgens	Dr. Robert Martin	Mildred Wilcox	Dr. Mary Jo Wynn

2002
Dr. Byrne Blackwood	Arthur Briggs	Margaret "Maggie" Crighton
Dr. Robert Gilmore	Dr. George Gleason	Wilda Looney
Dr. E. Howard Matthews	Don Payton	Aldo Sebben
Dr. Holt Spicer	Dr. Gerrit tenZythoff	Dr. Clifford Whipple
Dr. Richard Wilkinson