Current Issue: Volume 27 - Number 26 - Sept. 18, 2009
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Lion Tales: Erv Langan
Erv Langan recently completed 12 years as Missouri State University's Outreach Coordinator on the Missouri Southern campus. Although he still works in the office on a part-time basis, much of his attention is on his avocation.
Retirement means he can devote his time to devote his hours to his passion of growing grapes and making wine.
Erv Langan is a native of Atchison, Kan., the city that produced famous aviatrix Amelia Earhart. He was drafted into the Army as a young man and later went back into military service, finally retiring as an Army major. For a dozen years, he worked to coordinate graduate programs from Missouri State University available on the MSSU campus. The programs included a Masters in Social Work, MBA, Masters in Counseling, Master of Arts in Teaching, including Educational Administration and Elementary Education. He recruited students for the programs which featured classes held on campus as well as on television and online.
"We have produced hundreds, literally hundreds of graduates through our masters programs," he states. "The MAT program is one of Missouri Southern's "cohort" programs, offered in tandem with other universities," he says.
Prior to Missouri Southern gaining University Status in 2003, the MSU programs and UMKC Nursing program were the sole Masters programs. Since then, MSSU has worked to offer an increasing number of degrees in tandem with other universities in the state.
Erv is a Missouri Southern alumnus, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He went on to obtain graduate degrees in Management from Webster University, Adult Education from Northern Illinois and Education Specialist degree from Pittsburg State University. He also was a member of the Board of the Private Industry Council and the Joplin Sheltered Workshop.
Following his retirement on August 1, Erv's primary interest became his winery. He named it Keltoi, a Gaelic word for the Celts who lived in western Europe.
"My wife LeeAnn and I bought land about 11 years ago," he explains. "Ten years ago, we started our first one acre of grapes in the ground. For six years, we planted and grew an additional acre of grapes each year."
The winery, which opened in 2006 on a part-time basis, is now open five days a week.
"Business has picked up quite a bit in the last year," Erv says. "As people hear about it, check out wineries, more and more people are coming. We have weddings, parties and other events," he explains.
For Erv, a retired Army major, it is at least his third career. It followed being in the Army, teaching Army ROTC at Missouri Southern, obtaining advanced degrees and coordinating MSU's graduate program at Missouri Southern.
“When I was in the army, I made plans for what would I do after the Army. I thought about Higher Education. Then I asked myself what I would do when I left education. I came up with the idea of the winery.
He says one of his great inspirations was Napoleon Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich who wrote, "Whatever the mind of man can think and conceive, it can achieve."
Langan says he took Hill's philosophy to heart when he developed the idea of the winery. He methodically began buying land and planting grapes. Three years ago, his work crews picked 25,000 lbs. of grapes. This year, the total haul came to 10,000 lbs.
"As we get closer to the end of the day, I go up there with one or two employees and adjust the wine, checking acid, BRIX and other levels, adding sugar and water to get everything just right."
Erv and LeeAnn are the parents of four children, three daughters and a son who is currently on duty in the U.S. Marine Corps.
"We give people tours, telling them how we grow the grapes and how to make the wine. We have folks who want to start wineries come to see how we do business. We tell them what we've done right and what we've done wrong."
“I really love working with the grapes, getting them to look good and growing them. I have to sample my product all the time," he says, flashing a grin.
To reach the winery, travel north on 43 highway, pass 96 and turn west on M highway, go two miles to country road 260, go half mile and on the west.
Alumni activities scheduled
Make plans to take part in the 2009 "Go for the Green, Go for the Gold" Homecoming slated for Friday and Saturday, Sept. 25- 26 at Missouri Southern State University.
- Friday's activities will begin with a Campus Picnic from 10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. on the MSSU Oval. The picnic is free to faculty/staff and students with I.D. and is open to alumni at a cost of $6.
- Friday evening will feature an Alumni Awards Reception from 6 - 8 p.m. in Connor Ballroom in Billingsly Student Center on the MSSU Campus. Business attire is recommended. The Reception is open to Alumni Association members for $8 and to non-members for $10. The Reception will honor:
- Outstanding Alumni 2009 Recipient: Gary Aggus, '76.
- Lion-Hearted 2009 recipients The Beimdiek Family in honor of the late George Beimdiek and Dr. Robert and Mrs. Dot Willcoxon.
- Hall of Fame Inductees 2009: Stephen Crane, '98, Sonia (Blacketer) Eudy, 00, Cedric Florence, '96, Jennifer Jimerson, '99, Marvin "Red" O Dell, '80.
- Outstanding Professors: Dr. Dorothy Bay, Dr. William Kumbier, Terry Marion, '61
- Governor's Award Recipient: Stephen Schiavo.
- 2008 Superior Service Recipients: Dale Fletcher, Physical Plant Employee, Jan Garner, Professional Staff Employee, Ann Quade, Support Staff.
- On Saturday, Sept. 26, The Lion Pride Brunch will take place in Connor Ballroom in Billingsly Student Center on the MSSU campus. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the brunch will start at 9:30 a.m. Casual football attire is recommended. The cost for the brunch is $8 for Alumni Association members/Lionbackers and $10 for non-members.
- The Lion Pride Brunch will recognize all of the honorees for Homecoming.
- The Homecoming Parade will be held at 11:30 a.m. on the MSSU campus. The community is invited to Pre-Game Ceremonies at 1:30 p.m. at Hughes Stadium. The kickoff for the MSSU vs. the UNO Mavericks football game is slated for 2 p.m.
The MSSU Alumni Association office may be called at (417) 625-9355.
Tickets cost $12 at the gate for adults, $7 for children over age four. Admission is free for children age four and under. See the story below for on-campus activities.
Homecoming activities for students A wide variety of student activities are planned for the campus community during “Go for the Green, Go for the Gold” Homecoming week, Monday, Sept. 21 - Saturday, Sept. 26. Thursday, Sept. 24: Friday, Sept. 25: Saturday, Sept. 26: |
Final nights for Emily Carr
Southern Theatre will continue the play Emily Carr at 7:30 p.m., tonight and tomorrow night, Sept. 18-19 in the Bud Walton Theatre.
Admission is free to students, faculty and staff of Missouri Southern. Admission is $3 per person for other adults and $1 for senior citizens and high school students.
Emily Carr, written by Herman Voaden, is directed by James Lile, Theatre. This is a United States premiere that coincides with Missouri Southern's "Canada Semester."
Herman Voaden was a playwright who dedicated his career to the quest for a dramatic voice that was distinctly Canadian. He was also deeply passionate about the power of theatre.
He wrote, "In a world fraught with dissatisfaction and haunted with a sense of spiritual inadequacy the theatre remains a repository for great hope, vision and belief." In famed Canadian author and painter Emily Carr, Voaden found a subject as passionate about art as he was.
The play allows us to share her journey through the trials and triumphs, the sacrifices and successes, of a life lived in the service of art.
A cast list is available online by visiting www.mssu.edu/news/2009/canadasemester_emilycarrplay.htm
Beimdiek, Willcoxons named "Lion-Hearted"
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The late George Beimdiek, Carthage, longtime area business leader, and Robert L Willcoxon, M.D., Joplin area physician/surgeon and his wife Dorothy "Dot" Bramlage Willcoxon, will be awarded the Lion-Hearted 2009 Awards from the Missouri Southern Alumni Association according to Lee Elliff Pound, Alumni Association.
The Award recognizes individuals who, although not Missouri Southern graduates, are outstanding supporters of MSSU.
Dr. and Mrs. Robert Willcoxon and Stephen Beimdiek, the son of the late George Beimdiek, will accept their Awards during the Lion Pride Brunch at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26 in Connor Ballroom on the MSSU campus. Mrs. Carolyn Phelps, the daughter of George Beimdiek, also will be in attendance.
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The Award winners will be recognized at halftime of the MSSU homecoming football game that afternoon. George Beimdiek was a major contributor to Missouri Southern's Beimdiek Recreation Center, that recently opened on the MSSU campus.
The new facility also contains the Willcoxon Health Center, named for and supported by Dr. and Mrs. Willcoxon.
A full story, inclusive of details about the lives of Beimdiek, Dr. Willcoxon and Mrs. Willcoxon is available online at http://www.mssu.edu/news/2009/Lion_Hearted09.html
Outstanding Alumni Award for Aggus
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Missouri Southern supporter and businessman Gary L. Aggus, ’76 has been tabbed for the 2009 Outstanding Alumni Award.
Gary L. Aggus was born in 1953 in Pasadena, Calif. While still very young, his family moved to Joplin. He attended schools in Joplin, graduating from Memorial High School in 1972 where he played varsity football, basketball and baseball.
He then went on to Missouri Southern State University where he graduated Cum Laude in 1976 with a BS/BA degree in Marketing and Management and an Associate degree in Computer Programming.
While at MSSU, Gary played football on the 1973 and 1974 teams and was a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity for two years. He worked throughout his college career (up to 40 or 50 hours on many weeks) for Foremost Dairy in Joplin. Upon graduation, he was promoted into management and rose to the level of District Sales Manager within four years.
He joined Hiland Dairy in Joplin in May of 1984, beginning as District Sales Manager in 1985, he transferred to Hiland Dairy’s home office in Springfield. Gary moved up the ranks and was Assistant General Manager and General Sales Manager from 1993 to March of 2003.
In April of 2003 he was named President and General Manager of Hiland when the former President and General Manager retired. In this role, Gary directed not only the Springfield plant but manufacturing facilities in Norman and Chandler, Okla., Fayetteville and Fort Smith, Ark., and Wichita, Kan. In addition, Hiland has 26 branch operations scattered throughout Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Kansas. Hiland employs approximately 1,500 people.
In 2006, Gary again was promoted to Chief Operating Officer and President of Joint Ventures of Prairie Farms Dairy in addition to his duties as President and General Manager of Hiland. In this capacity, he also has primary responsibility over Belfonte Dairy of Kansas City, Mo., Roberts Dairy Company based in Omaha, Neb. and Turner Dairy of Memphis, Tenn. Today, Prairie Farms has annual sales of over $2 billion dollars consisting of 35 manufacturing facilities and 96 branch operations employing approximately 6,000 people in 14 states throughout the Midwest.
During Gary’s career, he has had many leadership positions and accomplishments in the dairy industry. He is currently a Board Member of the International Ice Cream Association; Board Member of Quality Chek'd Diaries, Inc. (serving on several committees over the years); past President and current Board member of the Missouri Dairy Products Association; a member of the Missouri Grocers Association and past member and officer of the National MilkPep Board. In 2006, Gary was honored by being inducted into the Missouri Dairy Hall of Honors.
Gary married his high school sweetheart, Debbie Patterson. They reside in Springfield and have three daughters, two sons-in-law and two grandsons.
Flu Clinic at Willcoxon Health Center
MSSU's Willcoxon Health Center, BSC Rm. 242, is offering a Flu Clinic (no appointment needed) 9 am - 3 p.m., Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sept. 21, 23, 24. Cost is $10 for students, and $15 for faculty/staff. These shots are to protect against the regular flu, not H1N1.
For additional information, contact the Willcoxon Health Center at .625- 9323 or email: dipley-j@mssu.edu or hosp-p@mssu.edu.
Cheerleading Clinic tomorrow
The MSSU Cheerleaders are conducting a coed stunt clinic from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Sept. 19 at the Leggett and Platt Athletic Center. The clinic is designed for high school through college students and includes a t-shirt and a ticket to the MSSU football game at 6 p.m.
The MSSU Cheerleaders and Dancers also will conduct a clinic from 1:30-3:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 19 at Leggett and Platt Athletic Center for kindergarten through 6th graders. Participants will learn a dance, cheer, chants, jumps and motions.
For more information about either clinic, contact Janel Smith at smith-janel@mssu.edu or call (417) 673-9378.
Graduate to work in Washington, D.C.
Missouri Southern graduate Jeff Billington has been named communications director for U.S. Rep. Laura Richardson (D-Calif.). Billington now serves as the primary media and communications staff member in Richardson’s Washington, D.C. office, which includes handling all press inquiries, arranging media interviews and serving as her spokesman.
Richardson represents California’s 37th congressional district, which includes most of the city of Long Beach, as well as portions of Los Angeles and the cities of Carson, Compton and Signal Hill. He officially started the position on Sept. 15.
Billington grew up in the community of Jacket, in the southeast corner of McDonald County. He graduated from Southwest High School in Washburn in 1995.
Billington graduated from MSSU in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications. He served three years on the staff of the university’s student newspaper, The Chart, including a year as editor-in-chief. He was also active in the university’s international programs, traveling as a student reporter to Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua and Australia.
Tour de Cure raises funds for diabetes
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The Tour de Cure in Rogers, Ark. on Oct. 3 is an organized bicycle ride effort for a cure for diabetes.
Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles. Nearly 24 million children and adults--almost 8 percent of the population have the illness. An estimated 5.7 million are unaware that they have the disease.
MSSU faculty/staff and students can help. Simply make checks for any amount out to the
American Diabetes Association and send them to Rebecca Gallemore, Teacher Education or e-mail her at gallemore-r@mssu.edu.
"Diabetes has affected my immediate family," she says. "I will be glad to pass your donation on to help find a cure for this illness that takes so many lives."
More information about diabetes and the Tour de Cure is available online at http://www.nwatour.com/1.html.
Mountie to speak Monday
Inspector A.F. “Al” O’Donnell, the officer in charge of operations at the Nanaimo, British Columbia Detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) will make three presentations on the history, modern activities and relationship to Canada’s Aboriginal citizens on Monday, Sept. 21.
* Of Myth and Mounties: A History of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police will be presented at 9 a.m., Monday, Sept. 21 in Corley Auditorium in Webster Hall.
* The Modern Model of the RCMP will be presented at 11 a.m., the same day in Corley Auditorium.
* Inspector O’Donnell will present “A Tradition of Service: The RCMP and Canada’s Aboriginal Peoples” at 1 p.m. in Corley Auditorium.
All three presentations are free and open to the public.
Health Care Roundtable
The Department of Finance/Economics and International Business at Missouri Southern is hosting the second public economic roundtable entitled “Health Care Reform: What’s In It for Me?”.
The roundtable will consist of economists, legislators and local leaders in the insurance and health care industry discussing the current Health Care proposal and how it might impact both individuals and the local area. The roundtable will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 28 in Cornell Auditorium, located in the Plaster Free Enterprise Center at Missouri Southern. The roundtable is free and open to the public. Please contact Nii Adote Abrahams, SOBA, at 625-9536 with any questions.
Panelists include:
Scott Brothers – President, The Insurancenter, Joplin
Gary Duncan – President and CEO, Freeman Health System, Joplin
Dr. Jeffery Milyo – Health Economist, University of Missouri, Columbia
Rep. Kevin Wilson, Chair, Special Standing Committee on Health Insurance, Mo. House of Representatives\
Penny-a-Vote
The Alumni Association's "Penny-a-Vote" event supports the Alumni Scholarship Fund. Students can vote from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday, Sept. 21 through Thursday, Sept. 24 in the CAB office in Billingsly Student Center. For each penny, students can add a vote for their favorite professor. Funds raised will be donated to the Alumni Association Scholarship.
The candidates are T.R. Hanrahan, Communications, Ronda Hubbard, Teacher Education, James Lile, Theatre, Hartford Tunnell, Computer Information Science, and Linda Hand, Honors Program.
For additional information, contact the Alumni Association at 625-9355.
Hands-on experience at Ummel Saturday
The Engineering Technology department hosts a mobile laboratory featuring hands-on experience with state-of-the-art metallography/materials testing instrumentation between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24 at Ummel Technology Building.
Everyone is invited to experience state-of-the-art metallurgical equipment including a metallograph, stereo microscope, image management system, benchtop sectioning machine, microindentation hardness testing system, and Rockwell-type and Vickers Hardness Testing system.
Metallography is the study of the physical structure and components of metals, typically using microscopy, the use of sophisticated microscopes to view samples or objects. Using metallographic techniques, a skilled technician can identify alloys and predict material properties. These studies have valuable application in manufacturing.
KGCS Sundays to focus on Southern
Programming this Sunday, Sept. 20 on KGCS-TV focuses on Missouri Southern State University. The station will air the recording of the monthly Board of Governors meeting, which takes place Friday afternoon at Southern. The meeting is scheduled to air at 6 p.m.
Coverage of Missouri Southern football resumes this weekend, with the first "Southern Sports Sunday" telecast on KGCS-TV. Students from the station will cover Saturday night's home opener, with rebroadcast planned for Sunday evening at 7 p.m. All home football games will be covered this season.
KGCS programming may be seen over the air on UHF channel 22, and on area cable television systems including Cable One, Mediacom and Suddenlink. The station is operated as a service of the Department of Communication at Missouri Southern State University.
Retirement Seminar
Whatever your age or years of service at Missouri Southern, we all need to plan for RETIREMENT! Be prepared for what’s ahead by planning to attend a special event sponsored by the Human Resources Office.
Reservations are required. Please call Judy Wilmoth, Human Resources, at ext. 3167 prior to Sept 28 to register.
A Mosers Retirement Planning Seminar is slated for 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14 and 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 15 in Room 413 of the Spiva Library.
State employees hired prior to July 1, 2000, have the choice of retiring under the Missouri State Employees’ Plan (MSEP) or the Missouri State Employees’ Plan 2000 (MSEP 2000). State employees hired July 1, 2000 and after are eligible for the MSEP 2000 plan. The BackDROP Retirement Option will also be discussed.Come to one of the sessions and learn the information you will need to compare the major provisions of the two retirement plans.
The following topics will be covered in the morning and in the afternoon session: MSEP & MSEP 2000 Benefit Overview and Comparison and Review of BackDROP Program (1 1/2 hrs) Social Security and Medicare (approx. 45 min). If you cannot attend a full morning or afternoon session, please feel free to come and go as your schedule permits.
Trivia night at your library
Are you smarter than your students? Prove it at “Trivia Night @ Your Library” at 6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24. at Spiva Library.
There will be great prizes including: MSSU basketball tickets, bowling passes, free movie tickets and rentals, gift cards to restaurants and local businesses and much more.
Teams may consist of 4-8 participants. Entry fee is $10 per person. Please pick up an entry form from the Library and return by Monday, Oct. 19. For more information, please contact: Amber Carr, Library, at ext. 9335 carr-a@mssu.edu or Melissa Forsythe, Library, at ext. 9362 forsythe-m@mssu.edu.
All proceeds will be used to purchase new chairs for the Library computer labs.
Pishkur exhibit at Plaster Gallery
Frank A Pishkur, Art, is displaying an exhibit of his current ceramic works entitled “Missouri Celadons” in the Elsie Plaster Gallery at Crowder College through Oct. 7. The exhibition features stoneware vessels with carved surfaces covered with a variety of celadon blue and green glazes. There will be an Artist’s Closing Reception from 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct 2.
Frank states, “I investigate the limits, depths, and advantages of the celadon glaze which has a long, venerable history in Asia.”
Pishkur earned his Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics from The Wichita State University. He has a variety of professional/teaching experiences including, Indiana University in South Bend, Louisiana College and Kyung Hee University in South Korea. His work has been included in over 75 exhibitions including 15 solo exhibitions.
Readings in Canadian Literature
Examples of native Canadian literature will be presented Wednesday, Sept. 23 and Friday, Oct. 2 in Spiva Library. The readings, part of MSSU’s “Canada Semester” activities, are free and open to the public.
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Readings in Native Canadian Literature
9 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 23
Room 413, Spiva Library
The rich literary tradition of native or Aboriginal writers in Canada will be suggested through readings from works crafted by descendants of these very early Canadians. The native writers, whose literary efforts draw strength from their natural environment and often reflect the political events and other crucial issues affecting Indian life, have increasingly received recognition in recent years, a period of energetic literary activity. The readings in native literature by faculty members from the MSSU English department will provide a glimpse into the diverse fabric of Indian culture with its many tribes and their poems and stories.
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Readings in National Canadian Literature
11 a.m., Friday, Oct. 2
Room 413, Spiva Library
The term “national” is used here to identify literature that could be encompassed by the general label of “Canadian” as opposed to the distinct areas of native or francophone literature. This body of literature is shaped in part by the English colonial experience and contemporary ties with Britain, along with Canada’s relationships with its very large and powerful North American neighbor to the south.
Readings by faculty members from the MSSU English department will touch on a variety of intriguing texts that touch on compelling aspects of the nation and its people.
The International Language Resource Center at Missouri Southern State University announces FREE Foreign Language Classes for children and adults. No previous foreign language experience is necessary. Classes to be offered include: |
Conrad Gubera, Social Science and Richard Miller, Arts and Sciences, have been appointed to the 2010 Census Count Commission. The Commission is trying to educate the population on the importance of completing and returning census forms. Failure to adequately report the census could have direct economic impact on the state, specifically the potential loss of millions of federal dollars in healthcare, education, social programs and highway improvements. Furthermore, if Missouri does not show a 60,000 population increase over the 2000 Census it could lose one U.S. Representative.
Leslie Willis, Director of Campus Recreation, thanks faculty/staff that have visited and/or worked out at our Campus Recreation Facilities. "We hope you continue to join us," says, adding, "If you plan to utilize the payroll deduct system, sign up needs to be completed at the Campus Recreation Offices (BSC 241) by Monday, Sept. 21. Leslie says to be sure to bring you faculty/staff ID with you each time you visit.
For Sale: Two tickets for the Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough event the evening of Saturday, Sept. 19, in Springfield. The event is in the new JQH Arena at MSU. Seats are located in Section DD, Row 8, Seats 12 and 13. Tickets are $62.50 each. If interested, call Anita at ext. 3725.
For Sale: Classy 1994 red Chevy Camaro; automatic; power windows, doors, locks, and driver's seat; remote entry; well-maintained engine; 131,000; good condition; good tires; one-owner; $2,700. Telephone (417) 673-1943.
Special Rate: May Doll, Bookstore, says MSSU faculty/staff can receive a special rate of $56.95 per night, based on availability, at the Branson Towers Hotel through Dec. 31. The hotel is located at 236 Shehered of the Hills Expressway. Call 1-800-683-1122 or (417) 336-4500 and mention the special when making your reservation.
Renaissance Festival Tickets |
