[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 21 (Tuesday, March 1, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E318-E319]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN RECOGNITION OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF SOUTHWEST MISSOURI STATE 
                               UNIVERSITY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ROY BLUNT

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 1, 2005

  Mr. BLUNT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay honor to an institution that 
celebrates its 100th birthday this month--Southwest Missouri State 
University at Springfield, Missouri with campuses in West Plains and 
Mountain Grove. During that century, Southwest Missouri State 
University, or SMSU as its students and alumni know it, has left its 
lasting mark of service and academic achievement on the region, the 
state, the nation and parts of the world.
  Southwest Missouri State University was founded March 17, 1905, in 
Springfield as Missouri State Normal School, Fourth District. With a 
faculty of 8, and 173 students in a single building on 38 acres of 
farmland, the school has evolved into the state's second largest 
institution of higher learning with 61 buildings and a student 
population of more than 20,800. The faculty has changed too. The 700-
member faculty represents a diverse

[[Page E319]]

group of researchers, educators, public servants and mentors in 192 
fields of study and offers more than 3,300 classes each year. The 
school's budget exceeds $200 million and its economic impact is an 
estimated $2 million per day.
  Its library, named after former President Duane Meyer, is a shining 
example of the growth and sophistication of SMSU. The number of books 
in the library has increased from 600 borrowed books in 1906 to 842,000 
books, 928,000 government documents, 1,040,000 microforms, 35,000 
audio-visual items, and 180,000 maps today. This year, the library will 
add its collection of union archives to its offerings available over 
the Internet.
  SMSU has ``opened the door of opportunity'' for students who have 
dared to excel for the past century and distinguished themselves in 
academics, in research, in public service, and in co-curricular 
activities and sports.
  In 1995, SMSU gained further distinction by adopting a statewide 
public affairs mission. SMSU has had a profound effect on improving the 
quality of life for citizens in Springfield, the region, and the state.
  March 17,2005 is ``Southwest Missouri State University Founders 
Day.'' It is part of a year-long celebration of the school's 100 years 
of service to Missouri. It is an appropriate celebration to mark the 
significant contributions the institution has made to the citizens of 
Missouri and the nation over the past 100 years.
  The future looks bright for Springfield campus. It has strong, 
principled leadership, a dedicated faculty that is actively involved in 
many communities. The school's research goals are expanding and its 
student body comes from nearly every county in the state.
  The evolution of SMSU followed its name. In its 100 years, the 
institution has had four names--Missouri State Normal School, Fourth 
District; Southwest Missouri State Teachers College; Southwest Missouri 
State College; and Southwest Missouri State University--each name 
changed to more accurately reflect what the institution had become.
  Nowhere is that more evident than in the growing ranks of its alumni 
that include governors, members of Congress, members of the state 
general assembly, countless local and municipal officials, teachers, 
civic leaders and business owners. I am proud to be among the 80,000 
living SMSU alumni today.
  This school has earned the honor of being called Missouri State 
University. It is a fitting new name for this institution that has 
provided excellence in higher education, research and public service 
across the state and continues to expand its service and reach into 
more communities. I want to wish Missouri's second largest university 
at Springfield another 100 years of service to, not only the region, 
but also the entire State of Missouri.
  Go Bears!

                          ____________________