WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Missouri State University-West Plains is just $7,000 away from the $250,000 needed to endow its third professorship, thanks to a generous donation from former Missouri State Senator Emory Melton.
Melton, a Republican from Cassville who served the people of the 29th District from 1972 to 1996, recently donated $50,000 to the university to go toward the professorship endowment. Once fully endowed, the professorship will provide the money needed to support the salary of the chair of the Division of Business, Applied Technology and Public Service, an important position with demanding responsibilities, university officials explained.
“This major gift of $50,000 from Emory Melton put us in the homestretch of our endeavor,” Missouri State-West Plains Chancellor Drew Bennett said. “Mr. Melton has long championed the mission of our campus in the halls of our state capitol in Jefferson City and after his years in public service. We have the utmost respect for Mr. Melton and cannot thank him enough for his continued support of our campus.”
Melton served in the Missouri Senate during a time of tremendous growth and change. As this area’s representative in the senate, he helped secure the first state appropriations for the Missouri State-West Plains campus, and in one of his last acts as senator before retiring in 1996, he helped secure $2.8 million in capital appropriations for the construction of the 28,000-square-foot classroom building on campus that now bears his name, Emory L. Melton Hall. The building was the first new construction project in the campus’ 33 year-history that was funded by the Missouri General Assembly.
Director of Development Joe Kammerer said Melton praised the West Plains community when he made his donation. “Mr. Melton described the residents of this community as people who pull themselves up by their bootstraps,” Kammerer said, adding Melton also showed a deep respect for the Ozarks culture of this region.
In addition to donations from area banks and financial planners, Missouri State-West Plains officials also received a gift for the professorship from Missouri State University System President Clif Smart.
“The gift from President Smart is a testimony of his support for the West Plains campus and shows the relationship between the West Plains and Springfield campuses is stronger than ever,” Bennett said.
Anyone wishing to make a donation or pledge toward the professorship or wanting more information about the fund can contact Kammerer at 417-255-7240.