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

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Dennis Weaver takes time out to sign autographs in the Lions ' Den during his visit to the College. Weaver visits his alma mater A visit by television personality Dennis Weaver in April 1986 was a highlight for students as well as members of the Missouri Southern Foundation. Although Weaver ' s main purpose in visiting Joplin was to speak at the Lantern Society banquet, he took time to sign autographs, visit with students in the Lions ' Den, and make several appearances around Joplin. It ' s exciting for me to be here he said, There is an attitude here that doesn ' t change. People are friendly Weaver grew up in Joplin and at¬ tended Joplin Junior College. In 1971 he was named Missouri Southern ' s Outstanding Alumnus. Speaking to Southern students about the value of education, Weaver en¬ couraged them to use their talents. I think a college degree is very useful ' he said. What it did for me was give me experience at the college level Experience at the college level is very important. Weaver emphasized finding the talent unique to each person and utiliz¬ ing it to reach goals. Humans have the ability to adapt, he said, You have to use what you have. Commitment and perseverance are very important. Develop what talents you have, and don ' t give up. Weaver ' s goal since childhood has been a career in acting. I knew in my mind that I wanted to be an actor, but in Joplin you don ' t go around telling everyone that. From the time I was a child, I would act out everything. Weaver received a football scholar¬ ship to the University of Oklahoma, where he majored in drama. They had a good drama depart¬ ment, he said. That is how I got started in acting. Perseverance paid off for Weaver. His varied acting career has included six television series, several television movies, and variety shows. The character of Chester in the television series Gunsmoke was one of his most memorable roles. In an interview taped for MSTV ' s Southern Perspective, Weaver gave his wife, Gerry, credit for helping with his career. It was a joint decision not to con¬ tinue with Gunsmoke,’ he said. Everyone told me I should continue with the show since it was a popular show. Since actors are sometimes stereo¬ typed after playing a particular type of role, Gerry Weaver encouraged her husband to take a chance and leave the show. Weaver said he has never been sorry. Having met while attending Joplin Junior College, the Weavers have been married for 46 years. They attribute the strength of their marriage to growing together. You find the sweetest thing you can find, someone who will put up with you, and you marry her, Weaver said. Theatre students also had an oppor¬ tunity to visit with Weaver in the green room of Taylor Auditorium, There he told the students the secret to acting is to make it real. While in Joplin Weaver also visited Dan Casey, a WMBH disc jockey who was helping to promote Friends Feeding Friends, a program organized to raise money to feed the hungry in the Joplin area. I think what Dan is doing is very important ' Mrs. Weaver said. Weaver founded a similar program, called Love is Feeding Friends, in the Los Angeles area. At the Lantern Society banquet Weaver spoke on The Project for Planetary Peace . The project is an at¬ tempt to draw the common people of the United States and the Soviet Union together and develop friendship be¬ tween the countries.

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(Right) Dennis Weaver speaks to the students in the Lions ' Den. (Below right) Weaver visits the site where WMBH disc jockey Dan Casey was promoting Friends Feeding Friends. (Below) Weaver talks to Missouri Southern theatre majors in the green room located in Taylor Auditorium.

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(Right) Ibdd Ketchum , a student coach, escorted Dee Dee Wessel at the football game , (Far right) Dee Dee Wesse was a royalty finalist. (Below) LaNita Wilhelm announces the names of LaDonna Wilson and Kevin Ziegler .—Photos by AUen Stmebrook