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Education news and issues in the Ozarks.

MSU Mourning Loss of Former President Duane G. Meyer

Duane G. Meyer
Missouri State University

Missouri State University today is remembering the school’s sixth president as an innovator and a visionary.

Dr. Duane G. Meyer died Sunday at the age of 89. Meyer led MSU from 1971-83, during which it was called Southwest Missouri State College and renamed Southwest Missouri State University.

“President Meyer led our university with grace and humility,” said current President Clif Smart in a statement. “He oversaw our growth from a regional college to a true university. He is remembered fondly by colleagues and former students and his legacy lives on through the Duane G. Meyer Library.”

Meyer had served as acting president of the university twice before and also served as the first dean of faculty.

Meyer is credited with adding specialist degrees, associate degrees and a cooperative education program at the university, plus research and service centers. During his tenure, SMSU experienced a 62 percent increase in enrollment. Meyer also oversaw the transferring of the State Fruit Experiment Station in Mountain Grove to the university and served as president when the Missouri legislature granted state budget eligibility to the West Plains campus.

Structural changes under his leadership include three classroom buildings and four new residence halls. The first public-private facility project came in 1976 with the building of Hammons Student Center. The school also grew to 125 acres while he held the presidency. 

Additional images and biographical information on Meyer is available on the Missouri State University website.