WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Mountain Grove dentist Dr. Tom Todd will receive this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award during Missouri State University Alumni Association’s annual spring picnic for alumni and friends at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 2, under the big tent at the corner of West Main Street and Pennsylvania Avenue near the Smith-London Centennial Bell Tower.
The award recognizes a Missouri State University alumnus who has made extraordinary achievements in his or her personal and professional endeavors and has shown notable success in his/her profession or business, loyalty to the university and outstanding contributions to society.
“Dr. Todd exemplifies the profile of an outstanding Missouri State University-West Plains alumnus,” said Missouri State-West Plains Director of Development Joe Kammerer. “He has been working for the betterment of his community and has served on the Chancellor’s Advisory Board for the West Plains campus. You quickly notice Dr. Todd’s upbeat attitude and enthusiasm for people. We are proud to honor him with this award.”
Todd attended Missouri State-West Plains from 1976-78 and completed a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Missouri State-Springfield in 1979, just three years after taking his first college class. He was hired by the Thayer School District upon graduation to take over head coaching duties for the football team. A year later, he was accepted into the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry and completed his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree in 1984. He then moved back to his hometown of Mountain Grove to begin his practice.
Since returning to his hometown, Todd has been an active member of the community, joining the Mountain Grove Chamber of Commerce and serving on the Mountain Grove School Board from 1998-2003, the YMCA advisory board and the Missouri State-West Plains’ Chancellor’s Advisory Board. In 2000, he was named Outstanding YMCA Member of the Year. He also contributed to the creation of the Mountain Grove Alumni Park and Panther Stadium at Mountain Grove High School.
“Dr. Todd is the ultimate nominee for the distinguished alumni award,” according to his nominator. “Marrying after high school graduation, he owned and drove a milk truck while attending school at Missouri State-West Plains. He and his wife, Cheryl, who was killed in an auto accident while their children were still in school, worked diligently to obtain their college degrees.”
The annual picnic is free and open to all Missouri State University alumni and friends; however, reservations should be made prior to the event, organizers said. For more information or to make reservations, call the Missouri State-West Plains development office at 417-255-7240.