[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 15114]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO DR. DUANE MEYER

  Mr. BLUNT. Mr. President, today I wish to honor Dr. Duane 
Meyer, historian, educator, author, former university president and my 
friend. Fittingly, the Greene County Historical Society honored Dr. 
Meyer in October with its Life Time Achievement Award for his body of 
work enriching Missouri's educational, historical and cultural life.
  Dr. Meyer, through his dedication, is recognized as one of Missouri's 
most distinguished historians. Dr. Meyer served as a teacher for 18 
years and as an administrator for 22 years (1971-1983 as president of 
what is today Missouri State University). He arrived in Springfield in 
1955 with a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. Dr. Meyer began his 
career as an assistant professor of history and later became a full 
professor of history. By 1961 he was dean of facilities for what was 
then Southwest Missouri State College. Ten years later Dr. Meyer was 
selected as the sixth president of Southwest Missouri State College, 
which earned university status in 1972.
  During his 12 years at the helm of Southwest Missouri State 
University, enrollment increased to an all-time high (62 percent), 
making it the second largest 4-year public institution of higher 
learning in Missouri. Southwest Missouri State University was 
transformed with the creation of an academic master plan, including a 
new business school, construction of a student event center and 
elevation of the athletic program to NCAA Division I competition. 
Academic achievements included new specialist degrees for graduate 
programs, new associate degrees for undergraduate students and 
cooperative education. Students were also given the opportunity to have 
learning experiences abroad. Faculty research was encouraged and 
research and service centers took form at Southwest Missouri State 
University during Dr. Meyer's tenure as president.
  As the academic landscape changed, so did the look of the campus. The 
campus expanded to 125 acres, the first public-private building--
Hammons Student Center--was constructed along with three new classroom 
buildings and four new residence halls. During that period, Southwest 
Missouri State University added the State Fruit Experiment Station in 
Mountain Grove and a new campus in West Plains, Missouri. In 
recognition of his contributions, Southwest Missouri State University 
honored Dr. Meyer by naming the school's new library after him.
  After leaving the president's office, Dr. Meyer continued to teach as 
a professor emeritus of history. He also served as a member on the 
Missouri Council of Public Higher Education Board and on the Missouri 
Humanities Council. Dr. Meyer's research has produced two text books, 
including The Heritage of Missouri: A History, which serves as a 
valuable reference for students learning about Missouri history.
  Dr. Meyer's leadership and dedication to excellence have reshaped one 
of the region's great universities and benefited countless students who 
have passed through its halls. Congratulations to Dr. Meyer for 
enhancing our understanding of Missouri history and making it available 
for future generations.

                          ____________________