Wall of Fame

Over its 107-year history, 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 who have had a positive impact on students that 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 2012 meeting.  The 2012 class of inductees will be honored during a special ceremony on October 26, as a part of the Homecoming festivities.

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.
• Significant positive impact on students.
• At least 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 four 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) by March 12, 2012.

Wall of Fame Honorees for 2011

Before computers were at every workstation and in every home, Irene Francka was a pioneer in the computer information systems department at Missouri State University. During her 18 years as a full-time faculty member, Irene taught keyboarding, typing, business education, communication and then adapted with the times to teach new computer application courses. She spent innumerable hours learning new equipment and software and writing training manuals to make computers more user-friendly for her students, and thanks to that dedication, faculty and staff often flocked to her courses to further their professional development. In addition to her dedication in the classroom, she published many scholarly articles, participated on many campus and community committees and supervised student teaching. It is said that she “radiated enthusiasm for teaching, for family and friends, and for life in general.”

When John Patton began his career as a business instructor at Missouri State in 1960, no one knew that he would become an institution in his own right. But after 45 years in the College of Business Administration, no one would question that title. He built the risk management and insurance program from the ground up and worked closely with those in the industry to ensure students were given quality, real-world education inside the classroom as well as through internships in the community. Patton was instrumental with fundraising efforts for student scholarships. One of his most recognizable achievements on campus was his position in assisting with the establishment of the Baker Chair of Insurance – the first endowed chair at the university – and a position he was then awarded. He certainly left a legacy, not only at the university, but in the insurance and risk management industry.

What made biology professor Dr. Robert Wilkinson, Jr. unique was his blending of passions for salamanders and students. He designed riveting projects for students to work on and problem-solve and spent countless hours planning field trips that would engage his students. During his 34 years at Missouri State, he focused on igniting enthusiasm about the natural world and not just passing along information. He actively published in national journals and was a highly demanded presenter, as he was an expert in the field of herpetology – specifically in the study of the hellbender. Leading by example, Wilk, as many called him, challenged other faculty in the department to look for grant research opportunities and hands-on experiences for their students. He truly was a master at “the art that is in science.”

The late J. H. “Speedy” Collins was an all-around sportsman who prided himself on pushing his students toward excellence on and off the field. He became a well-rounded athlete at Stockton High School, and as a student at Missouri State, he picked up a football for the first time – and lettered in it! He became the first Missouri State student to earn 12 letters before graduation. Professionally, he utilized his passion for sports to inspire athletes for generations to come by becoming the track coach at Missouri State University and later a football and track coach for Greenwood Laboratory School. He believed in contributing to the community, and he assisted in the establishment of the Blue and Gold Tournament. Later, he was recognized for his nearly 40 years at Missouri State through his induction into the first class of the Missouri State Athletic Hall of Fame, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, the Missouri Track Hall of Fame and the Missouri Officials Hall of Fame. One of his former students wrote: “I lived and reacted to his words not just on athletics, but on life itself. He taught how to win, but also how to lose.”

The 2012 class of inductees will be honored during a special ceremony on October 26, as a part of the Homecoming festivities.

Past Honorees