
WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Several pieces of sports memorabilia will be up for sale at Missouri State University-West Plains’ 18th annual auction, set for April 13 at the West Plains Civic Center exhibit hall.
Among the items are a framed, autographed 8 1/2-inch x 11-inch card of the late Major League Baseball (MLB) great Elwin “Preacher” Roe; a Louisville Slugger bat autographed by former West Plains resident Bill Virdon, the 1955 National League “Rookie of the Year”; and a set of framed trading cards of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2008 featuring a card autographed by former Missouri State-West Plains Grizzly Volleyball Head Coach Trish Kissiar-Knight.
All of these items have been donated by the staff of the university’s Department of Student Services as part of the auction’s departmental contest. For the past few years, organizers said, various departments and offices on campus have been encouraged to engage in a friendly competition of donating items to be sold at the auction. The two departments raising the most money with their donations are awarded a plaque and lunch courtesy of the development office, organizers explained. This year, items have been donated from 11 different departments, officials added.
Other sports-related items that will be sold during the “April in Paris”-themed auction include lunch with Virdon; a football autographed by University of Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino; 18 suite tickets for a Springfield Cardinals game; tickets and a tailgate party for the Kansas City Royals vs. St. Louis Cardinals game on June 24; other various sports collectibles; and tickets to see the Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Rams’ 2012 season opener, and Missouri State University Bears and Lady Bears basketball games.
The event will begin with a silent auction from 5 to 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner served from 6:30 to 7:30 and the live auction at 7:30. Tickets are $30 per person and may be purchased by contacting the Missouri State-West Plains development office at 417-255-7240 or via e-mail at WPDevelopment@MissouriState.edu. Tables seating eight can be reserved for $300. For those who are unable to attend the auction, absentee bids also will be accepted.
Organizers also encourage area residents to check out the auction website, http://wp.missouristate.edu/development/auction.htm, and Facebook page, “MSU-WP Auction,” periodically for the latest additions to the list of auction items.
Dress is casual for the event, but auction-goers are invited to wear their favorite Parisian attire, organizers said.
Members of the annual auction planning committee include Ruby Collins, Bob Eckman, Nancy Franz, Tracy Grigsby, Jackie Grisham, Connie Henry, Dennis Lancaster, Cindy McFarland, Haley Mitchell, Amanda Niemotka, Kathi Rumbaoa, Kathy Schloss, Tammy Sexton and Valerie Williams, as well as Missouri State-West Plains development office staff members Elizabeth Grisham, Joe Kammerer, Debbie Martin, Debra Mosley, Jessi Long and Terry Hampton. Other auction volunteers from the community include Bev and Rick Hamby, Vicki Kimes and Heather Peugh.
For more information about the auction, call 417-255-7240.
