As 'token of our thanks,' MSU gives Bronze Bear Award to retiring Sen. Roy Blunt

Claudette Riley, Springfield News-Leader
·2 min read
A year ago, U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt takes a tour of Missouri State University's Temple Hall, built in 1971, with Tamera Jahnke, dean of the College of Natural and Applied Sciences and MSU President Clif Smart.
A year ago, U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt takes a tour of Missouri State University's Temple Hall, built in 1971, with Tamera Jahnke, dean of the College of Natural and Applied Sciences and MSU President Clif Smart.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Two days after U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt visited the Missouri State campus for the umpteeth time, the university announced the longtime lawmaker will receive a prestigious award.

The MSU Board of Governors voted Friday to honor Blunt with the Bronze Bear Award and a commencement ceremony in December. Blunt is expected to speak at the graduation.

“Sen. Roy Blunt has been an incredible champion for the university, and the Bronze Bear is a small token of our thanks,” MSU President Clif Smart said, in a news release. “As a public servant, he has helped bring national exposure and millions of dollars to Missouri State, watching out for our students’ best interests."

He added: “With the funding that passed this spring, our STEM facilities will be absolutely transformed.”

The Bronze Bear recognizes individuals for special support and achievement at Missouri State.

Earlier this year, Blunt was instrumental in securing $56 million in federal funds for MSU. The majority of it will be used to renovate Temple Hall, home to the university's College of Natural and Applied Sciences.

The building has not seen any substantial improvements in 50 years. The university said Temple Hall has outgrown its existing footprint and needs more room for research.

Missouri State is proposing adding an addition to Temple Hall and renovating part of the existing building.
Missouri State is proposing adding an addition to Temple Hall and renovating part of the existing building.

The university has planned a two-phase process for the building: adding 90,000 square feet and then renovating the existing 126,000 square feet. Its new name will be the Ozarks Health and Life Science Center. It will house the biology, chemistry, geography, geology and planning departments.

Large lectures in other STEM — science, technology, engineering or math — areas, such as astronomy and physics, will also occur in the center.

Blunt, who has a master's degree in history from MSU, started his career in politics in the early 1970s. He was county clerk and the chief election official in Greene County.

He has served numerous roles since including Missouri’s Secretary of State and as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2010, he was elected to the U.S. Senate.

More:Missouri State 'not the same university' after $250M+ fundraising campaign

In March 2021, Blunt announced he will retire at the end of this term.

“In every job Missourians have allowed me to have, I’ve tried to do my best," he said at the time. "In almost 12,000 votes in the Congress, I’m sure I wasn’t right every time, but you really make that decision based on the information you have at the time.

"Thanks for giving me the chance to work for you.”

In a news release Friday, MSU listed other ways Blunt has advocated for higher education and the university:

  • Helping the university secure grants, external contracts and an appropriation to construct the Roy D. Blunt Jordan Valley Innovation Center;

  • Inviting the Missouri State Chorale to perform at the 2017 presidential inauguration;

  • Leading the charge for changes to the Pell Grant system to allow students to attend school year-round.

Claudette Riley covers education for the News-Leader. Email tips and story ideas to criley@news-leader.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: MSU gives Bronze Bear Award to retiring Sen. Roy Blunt