2008 Woodie Awards
Looking back at León
Highlights of a career from pages of 'The Chart'
Issue date: 8/20/07 Section: News
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As the paper of record for Missouri Southern, The Chart takes an abbreviated look back at the tenure of former University President Julio León. The account is drawn mostly from the newspaper's own pages.
The beginning
León was appointed interim president of Missouri Southern State College on June 29, 1982. At that time, gas was $1.82 a gallon; popular television shows included Magnum, P.I. and Knight Rider; Ronald Reagan was president of the United States and "Jack and Dianne" was a chart-topping song.
León was tapped as interim president after the resignation of Dr. Donald Darnton. Darnton resigned June 5, 1982 and continued to serve until June 30, 1982.
When León assumed the job, he was found by a former Chart editor while he was trying to be alone. León shared his first thoughts as president.
"It's obviously exciting," he told just-graduated Chad Stebbins. "I'm aware it's a tremendous responsibility. I'll try to do the best job I possibly can."
Stebbins is now a faculty member serving as director of the Institute of International Studies.
In the June 30, 1982 edition of The Chart, then-Regent Glenn Wilson said "The strength of the School of Business and León's leadership there, along with the thrust of the man's character, were deciding factors."
León ended his University presidency Friday by praising the faculty and began it much the same way.
"We are a strong undergraduate school," he said at the time. "We have the basis for becoming an even better one. The backbone of any institution is its faculty.
"All I can do now is pledge that the faculty will have the resources, support and encouragement to do the best possible job."
The International Mission
On Nov. 30, 1989, Missouri Gov. John Ashcroft spoke to a group of higher education administrators at a conference in Kansas City. Ashcroft challenged at least one state college or university to tackle an international mission.
"We have some examples of distinctive missions," he said. "The University of Missouri-Rolla, with its science an engineering emphasis; Northeast Missouri State University, with its liberal arts emphasis; and Harris-Stowe State College with its teacher education emhasis-but many other possibilities exist.
The beginning
León was appointed interim president of Missouri Southern State College on June 29, 1982. At that time, gas was $1.82 a gallon; popular television shows included Magnum, P.I. and Knight Rider; Ronald Reagan was president of the United States and "Jack and Dianne" was a chart-topping song.
León was tapped as interim president after the resignation of Dr. Donald Darnton. Darnton resigned June 5, 1982 and continued to serve until June 30, 1982.
When León assumed the job, he was found by a former Chart editor while he was trying to be alone. León shared his first thoughts as president.
"It's obviously exciting," he told just-graduated Chad Stebbins. "I'm aware it's a tremendous responsibility. I'll try to do the best job I possibly can."
Stebbins is now a faculty member serving as director of the Institute of International Studies.
In the June 30, 1982 edition of The Chart, then-Regent Glenn Wilson said "The strength of the School of Business and León's leadership there, along with the thrust of the man's character, were deciding factors."
León ended his University presidency Friday by praising the faculty and began it much the same way.
"We are a strong undergraduate school," he said at the time. "We have the basis for becoming an even better one. The backbone of any institution is its faculty.
"All I can do now is pledge that the faculty will have the resources, support and encouragement to do the best possible job."
The International Mission
On Nov. 30, 1989, Missouri Gov. John Ashcroft spoke to a group of higher education administrators at a conference in Kansas City. Ashcroft challenged at least one state college or university to tackle an international mission.
"We have some examples of distinctive missions," he said. "The University of Missouri-Rolla, with its science an engineering emphasis; Northeast Missouri State University, with its liberal arts emphasis; and Harris-Stowe State College with its teacher education emhasis-but many other possibilities exist.
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