Missouri Southern State University - Crossroads Yearbook (Joplin, MO)

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Leon C. Billingsly 1925 - 1978 Dr. Leon C. Billingsly, the only person to serve as Presi¬ dent of Missouri Southern State College, died suddenly of a heart attack on Saturday, November 25, 1978. He was 53. For fourteen years he had served as president of the college which under his leadership had grown from a one building junior college to a four-year state college on a 300 acre campus. He was the right man at the right time for MSSC. Although he was only 39 years old when he assumed the presidency, his teaching and administrative experience coupled with his sound business acumen and solid common sense provided him with the tools to meet the challenges of building a college. Dr. Billingsly had left home at 16 to join the Navy because “There was no employment for young people where I was. I lived south of Springfield on a farm and young people had to leave the community to find work.” After traveling four years in the service, he began his college education at Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield. He had traveled to many countries during his Navy duty including Australia, India, Japan, Africia and the Phillippines. “I saw many good places to live,” he had said, “but nothing that compared to the U.S. We’re for¬ tunate to live here. With all our faults, this is still the best place to live. We have a good system of public education, the privilege of voting for those who will govern us and of objecting to those officials who don’t do their job right, our standard of living is higher—things which are com mon here are a luxury elsewhere.” Dr. Billingsly graduated from SMS with degrees in political science and biology and enough physical educa¬ tion to coach, which he did for two years at Golden City, Mo. While teaching there and at Lamar, he completed his Master of Science at Pittsburg State University, beginning his administrative career as Superintendent of Schools at Golden City. He then held the same position at Pleasant Hill, became Director of the Laboratory Schools at PSU, and after completing his Doctor of Education degree at the University of Arkansas, became Dean of the Joplin Junior College in 1961. In 1963 he became President of Kellogg College in Battle Creek Michigan for one year, returning to the presidency of MSSC (then Jasper County Junior College) in 1964. For the next fourteen years, Dr. Billingsly dealt with the pressures, disappointments, challenges and triumphs of establishing MSSC as an outstanding four-year college. His abilities in dealing with legislators in Jefferson City, college administrators around the state, and civic and business leaders at home were in large measure respon¬ sible for the college’s growth and success. Dr. Billingsly had stated in an interview, “This job has a certain amount of pressure. There are times when you can’t just leave it at the office. However, the benefits far outweigh the problems. I like it—no, I love it, or I wouldn’t be here now.” ■ mmSSStSub Jy ft SssiHi '

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Perhaps no other college or university administrator in the state was as respected in the Missouri legislature as Leon Billingsly. His thorough knowledge of the legislative process and his ability to work honestly and diplomatically with the government officials spelled success for the college in receiving continued legislative support for its growth. Dr. Billingsly worked diligently with faculty, administra¬ tion and Board of Regents Trustees in developing a college curriculum which combines strong academic dis¬ ciplines and advanced vocational and technical training. In providing studies that would aid employment in the Joplin area, he felt that the college was paying the city back for the tremendous support it had given the college. “We’ve tried to give the city something tangible in return for what they’ve done for us,” he said. His high academic standards and knowledge of curriculum development led to his appointment to the evaluation team of the North Central Accreditation Program. In 1977, SMSU honored him with an Outstan¬ ding Alumnus Award presented to him by President Duane Meyer, a long time friend and colleague, (pictured right) That same year he also received the Outstanding Citizen Award from the Joplin Chamber of Commerce, the first recipient of the award not primarily involved in com¬ merce. His ability to establish rapport with people in all areas of the city’s life helped create and maintain the en¬ viable “town and gown” rapport which the community and the college enjoy. On a campus of 4000 students, not many students can really know the president or even have opportunity to meet him personally. But Dr. Billingsly was always accessible to students, always willing to listen and help with their problems, to carefully explain circumstances with which they might not agree, or to share happily in their accomplishments. We were all privileged to be, as a Joplin Globe editorial stated following his death, in the presence of a un¬ common, common man ... He used the same measure of strength, magnetism and vigor in helping build college buildings as he did in helping to build character—as far as one can, as best as one can. No community or its people are left unmarked or uninspired when a Leon Billingsly passes by.” i 20