Office of University Communications 

University to honor five former faculty, staff members on Wall of Fame

Approved during the Board of Governors meeting today (May 17), the 2007 Wall of Fame Class includes: the late Dr. William Jack Bush, the late Gene Ellis, R. Todd Morriss, the late Olan Oatman and Dr. Orin Robinson. The 2007 class of inductees will be honored during a special ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 26 in the Plaster Student Union, Ballroom West. The event will be open to the public.

Those chosen for induction to the Wall of Fame by the selection committee were nominated by faculty, staff and students. Nominees must have worked for the university full time for at least 10 years. Additionally, five years must have passed since the individual was last employed full time at Missouri State. Those nominated must be known and respected by various segments of the campus community for their demonstrated character and integrity; their service must have resulted in meaningful change at Missouri State.

“Missouri State University is proud to recognize the many years of dedicated service these five individuals have provided to the university,” said Missouri State President Michael T. Nietzel. “The investment these five have made has enriched the university and built the foundation that we are still building on today. For that reason, the Wall of Fame induction has become one of the most popular annual events we have.”

Information regarding each honoree is below.

When Russia launched Sputnik in 1957, teachers and administrators throughout southwest Missouri called upon Dr. William Jack Bushfor advice. Those teachers knew that Bush, then an assistant professor of mathematics at Greenwood Laboratory School, had kept up with new developments in the field and, in turn, could test new methods of teaching on his students. Bush served at Greenwood for more than 34 years, from 1952-1987. He was promoted to professor in 1960 and served as mathematics department supervisor. His concern for teaching mathematics led to his participation in revising Missouri’s curriculum for elementary and secondary school. He was the first secretary of the Faculty Senate, and later served as president for two years. He served as class sponsor at Greenwood for 31 years.

Gene T. Elliscame to Missouri State University in 1971 and served for 23 years as director of computer services. Ellis arrived at the university during the “mainframe era.” Under his leadership, information processing at the university was transformed with the development of student systems, finance systems, human resource and payroll systems, and systems that support student services. Under Ellis’s guidance, Missouri State acquired its first mainframe computer, its first online system and its first state-of-the-art computer facility in Cheek Hall.

R. Todd Morrissworked at Missouri State University for 27 years. During that time, he served as director of the office of student financial aid. Co-worker Betty Garrett said that Morriss “lived and breathed his dedication to serving students, to making their academic experience better due to the reduction of financial aid stress.” During his tenure, Morriss was involved in implementing and refining the use of financial aid processing software, he appeared before congressional committees seeking to improve financial aid for students, served on several advisory boards, and help establish the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MOHELA).

Former students, family members and colleagues describe Olan Oatmanas an industrial education “pioneer.” Oatman served for 33 years in Missouri State’s industrial education and technology department and retired as a professor in 1984. In 1973, Oatman wrote and edited “Wood and Wood Technology: A Curriculum Guide” as part of a state project to outline advanced aspects of wood technology that could be added to high school wood shops. Dr. Jon Wiggins, professor of agriculture, said Oatman’s work “structurally altered the physical characteristics of wood with the addition of preservatives, plastics and adhesives.” Oatman was dedicated to his students and served as sponsor of Epsilon Pi Tau, the industrial education honor society. He was a World War II veteran and served as an Explorer Scout adviser and Boy Scout scoutmaster for local Troop 5.

Dr. Orin Robinson, who taught for 26 years in Missouri State’s industrial education department, once told a student “I always liked teaching foundry work because you could melt your mistakes.” Robinson began teaching at Missouri State in 1959 and was named department head in 1967. During his tenure, Robinson served on the Faculty Senate and helped plan the construction of Kemper Hall. He served on various local, state and national committees and was a founder of the National Association of Industrial Technology. Dr. Duane Meyer, professor emeritus, wrote that Robinson “personally knew every student who majored in industrial education. He followed the job placement of each graduate from his department and kept track of his or her career.”