The Chart Online

Le n celebrates his 20th year as College President, says term has been smooth
Jerry Manter

Managing Editor

Walking into the president s office for the first time more than 20 years ago, Dr. Julio Le n didn t have a big agenda that first day.

After settling down in his new office, Le n walked over to a large mountain of school files. He opened the first one, looking over all the numbers, facts, details, and analyzed its importance.

Then he opened the next file.

I wanted to know where every single dollar was, Le n said.

After the first stack of files was finished, he began working on the next pile. It was tiresome work, but he knew it had to be done.

It helped me understand how things moved, Le n said. I wanted to learn about the school.

At the time, he was only filling an interim position after Dr. Donald Darnton, school president, suddenly resigned. Asked to serve as president for one semester, Le n knew he would be able to get back to the school of business to serve as dean. It was there where he could teach business, economics and finance.

Teaching was what he loved to do.

Toward the end of the semester, he began hearing a few comments here and there about the upcoming presidential vacancy.

I heard people suggesting it, Le n said.

After a lengthy application and interview process with the Board of Regents members, Ray Grace, Board president at the time, asked Le n to take the helm. He gladly accepted and was named president at the start of the 1982 school year.

Here was this challenge, he said. I could continue to help the process. This is what motivated me.

When Vivian Le n heard about her husband s new job promotion, she knew he d be the perfect individual for the job.

He had such a love for Missouri Southern, Vivian said. He always was excited about what was happening and what could be done.

She said the new position meant a lot to the Le n family and how it helped them establish themselves in Missouri.

We grew to love the area, she said. We grew roots here.

Although the journey has been long for Dr. Julio Le n, it s been relatively simple.

Living in Iquique, Chile, a sleepy town in the northern port of the country, Le n had a rough childhood.

Three blocks from my house was the sports stadium, he said. Five blocks away from my house was the ocean, and just around the corner was the library.

For 18 years, Le n lived in his own little paradise. When he wasn t involved with sports or playing on the beach with friends, he could always be found at the library. He loved reading, stretching his mind to a world outside of South America.

After graduating high school, Le n had two passions in life: track and teaching. He wanted to run, and he wanted to teach. The ambitious runner was quick, too. He landed a spot on the Chilean National track team. Along with his teammates, they would always talk about the United States and how it was a world power in track at the time.

I wanted to run track for an American college, he said

Running 800 meters in 1 minute, 49 seconds and the mile in 4 minutes, 8 seconds, was impressive to recruiters from Odessa Junior College in Odessa, Texas. They were looking for a young star and offered Le n a scholarship.

He left his little paradise for the Longhorn state to continue searching for his dream. He wanted to run, but it was teaching that always led him to the right direction.

Track and field was just a pastime, he said. Deep within me was a desire to be a teacher.

After a successful run at the junior college level, Leon transferred to Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Okla. While attending an international club meeting, Le n met Vivian, his future wife, who was from Hong Kong.

Together they transferred to North Texas University in Denton, Texas. By then Le n had quit track, concentrating completely on his education. After receiving his master s degree in business and administration, Le n attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville to pursue his doctorate degree.

The doctorate was a piece of cake.

It wasn t difficult, he said. School has always been easy for me; it was fun.

Le n never thought he d be at the top for such a long run. Not having any critical problems during the stretch helps, but it s always been the institution that keeps him coming back for more.

The drive to see Southern succeed is what s important. He said he wants to see the College accomplish a variety of goals. He hopes to ease budget problems with the state, continue expanding the distance and international program, and also look for a university name change.

But what s really important, Le n said, is the teaching.

We ve been successful in maintaining at this institution a strong emphasis on good teaching, he said.

Jim Gray, dean of the school of business, attended the University of Arkansas with Le n.

I ve always enjoyed him as a person, a colleague and his visual ideas, Gray said.

Over the years, the two have become friends. They know one another well.

He s always on the leading edge, Gray said. And, I appreciate that.

Le n s secretary, Nancy Messick, has worked with him in the administration office for close to 20 years. Last year, Messick transferred to the presidential office to work with Le n.

I highly respect him, Messick said. He has a lot of weight on his shoulders.

Vivian, who knows him best, said it makes her happy seeing her husband work at Southern for so long. She knows in the end, it s what makes him happy.

I see enjoyment out of him when he s with students and making new friends, she said. He s always looking out for them - he just loves people.

At age 64, Le n said he doesn t know what s next with his future at Southern. He does, however, know he doesn t plan on retiring any time soon.

I don t see myself rocking on my lawn chair on the porch for a very long while, he said. I want to work as long as I can.