dearfriends Legislation recognized Northwest’s ‘living museum of trees’ s a child, I would spend hours playing arboretum passed, even if, regretfully, we A near a big old sycamore tree by the creek, could get no funding. It was at that time in so I guess I could say I have always been a “tree 1993 that Northwest and its scenic grounds hugger.” Accordingly, in the early 1990s when officially became the Missouri Arboretum. President Hubbard asked me, as one of my first I think most Northwest alumni and assignments as his executive assistant, to get friends would agree that we have one of the Northwest designated as the state arboretum, most beautiful campuses in the state with I was pleased but a bit overwhelmed. There an incredible number of species of trees was much to do before the legislation could be that are a great resource for students, area introduced – inventory and assess the trees on schoolchildren and anyone who visits the campus, establish committees to determine the Northwest campus. I am proud about what direction and scope of the arboretum, visit other was accomplished on behalf of our campus arboretums to formulate ideas of what we wanted and arboretum. and identify legislators to introduce and carry the With the devastation from the bill. December ice storm, 79 trees were lost Luckily, one of the best comprehensive and hundreds more were damaged. Please arboretum networks could be found in nearby consider supporting the arboretum to rebuild the Dr. Annelle Weymuth, former Nebraska. Dr. Hubbard had come from a collection. A gift of $300 to Northwest will com- assistant to the president and self-proclaimed “tree hugger,” presidency there, so he knew the importance of memorate a tree for its lifetime. After my father was instrumental in establishing having a living museum of trees. died, I commemorated a tulip poplar tree – one Northwest’s campus as the Mis- It took several years before we were ready to of his favorites. When my husband, Rick, and souri Arboretum. In their retirement, introduce the legislation. However, Northwest I retired, we gave money for additional trees to she and her husband, Dr. Rick Weymuth, professor emeritus of was extremely fortunate to have the expertise be planted. Think of giving a tree for a birthday, music, continued fulfilling their provided by Lezlee Johnson, one of only a few anniversary, graduation, or just because it’s good passion for nature during a trip to foresters in this area of the country. She was for the environment. This is a gift that really the National Botanical Gardens of first a member of the Arboretum Committee makes a visible difference. Australia. and would later become the director of the Sincerely, arboretum. In addition, we were fortunate to have many other dedicated people, such as then- grounds director Randy Willis and horticulturist Syd Weybrew, sharing their expert opinions. Annelle Weymuth I was so proud when the legislation for the Former Executive Assistant to the President The mission of the Northwest Northwest Foundation Inc. William Gram ’52, Rancho Dick Thomson, Maryville Neil Elliott, Lynn Ruhl, Alumni Magazine is to foster ’07-’08 Board of Directors Palos Verdes, Calif. Deb Tripp ’92, ’96, Development Officer/Athletics Executive Assistant [email protected] connections between alumni, President John Grispon ’87, St. Louis Coppell, Texas [email protected] friends and Northwest Jim Blackford ’72, Maryville Ray Hischke ’66, Jason White ’91, Maryville Polly Parsons Howard ’00, Lori McLemore Steiner ’85, Missouri State University. The Woodlands, Texas Richard “Dick” Wiles ’71, Development Officer/Booth Finance Officer Vice President The offices of University Jim Joy ’57, Rogers, Ark. Jefferson City College of Business and [email protected] Mike Faust ’74, Omaha, Neb. Advancement and University Joyce Kerber ’60, Ron Woolsey ’74, ’78, Professional Studies Anna Bradshaw Summa ’01, Relations strive to inform Immediate Past President Lee’s Summit Grain Valley [email protected] Database Specialist Jodie Mackintosh ’77, [email protected] readers of the accom- Chuck Place ’72, Albany Ex-Officio Directors Laurie Drummond Long ’92, Omaha, Neb. plishments of Northwest’s Mary Asbell ’69, B.D. Owens ’59 Development Officer/Donor Steve Sutton ’71, Jerry Moyer ’76, ’78, alumni, friends, faculty, Lubbock, Texas President Emeritus, Relations Director of Alumni Relations Titusville, Fla. [email protected] [email protected] students and administration Jim Ballinger* ’67, Weatherby Clearwater, Fla. Helen Mutz ’50, Maryville and to positively position the Lake Mitzi Craft Lutz ’91, Brenda Untiedt ’00, Kenny Petersen ’66, Dean L. Hubbard University in the hearts of its Holly Murphy-Barstow ’81, Advancement Alumni Relations Specialist Omaha, Neb. University President [email protected] many constituents to increase Omaha, Neb. Communications Specialist William C. Price ’60, Orrie Covert [email protected] public and private support. Shoba Brown ’71, Maryville Andrea Kearns Wagner ’00, Mark Burnsides ’79, Maryville Cincinnati, Ohio Executive Director Teresa Macias ’97, ’05, Development Officer/College Jim Redd ’66, Leawood, Kan. Tom Carneal, Maryville Advancement Staff Development Officer/College of Education and Human Dan Runde ’81, Platte City Rick Carter, Maryville Orrie Covert, of Arts and Sciences Services/Corporate and Mark Doll ’80, Tim Sullivan ’75, Vice President [email protected] Foundation Relations Urbandale, Iowa [email protected] Council Bluffs, Iowa [email protected] Peggy Purdy, Jason Garst ’93, Watson Ron Taylor ’79, Waukee, Iowa Accounting Specialist Kay Thomas ’71, [email protected] Blue Springs *deceased NORTHWEST ALUMNI MAGAZINE SPRING 2008 bearcatroar I remember when ... remember Home- One of my earliest Northwest memories I comings at North- occurred Dec. 1, 1984. This was my third west. Homecoming birthday, and there was nothing I wanted more was always special, even (except perhaps a Cabbage Patch Doll) than to after graduating and have Bobby Bearcat attend my birthday party. residing in Maryville Needless to say, when Bobby showed up at for many years. The the door I was thrilled. I went running to give whole experience was Bobby a huge hug and to inspect the gifts he had unlike any that could brought. Soon I was lifted into the furry arms ever be experienced at of my personal hero, although I was in for a big larger schools. surprise. For the first time in my short life I was The most memo- face to face with Bobby Bearcat, and able to take rable Homecoming in his costume from a much closer vantage point. was in 1981 when I (Remember, at the age of 3, I thought Bobby Sporting green beanies as a sign was in charge of building a float. The float theme was a real bearcat). of their freshman status, students obediently rolled up a pant leg and was Snoopy and the Red Baron, with Bobby From where I sat in Bobby’s arms, I was able carried a freshman girl on Walkout playing the role of Snoopy. I remember on the day to see through the mesh screen covering his Day in the late 1950s. Walkout Day of the parade the float had a major malfunction mouth and recognize a human face looking back signaled the end of having to wear in the animation, and we all came together to put at me. I let out a sharp scream and began to cry. the beanies, which were abolished in 1962. the pieces together and make the float work with Bobby quickly put me down, and I went what we had. The float won first place, and we running to my mom. She asked, “What’s wrong? were amazed, considering the happenstance. It’s Bobby, you love Bobby.” I quickly retorted, BEARCAT ROAR Whenever I need an uplift, I think back to my “But Mommy, Bobby ate somebody!” With this “Bearcat Roar” gives you the days at Northwest. I tell the people I now work exclamation my parents, Bobby and all the party opportunity to share your with some of my college experiences, and they are guests began to laugh hysterically. Northwest memories or stories with amazed that one can get so much in four years. Quickly, Bobby knelt down and removed the other alumni and friends. Todd Schuler ’82 costume’s head, revealing the college-age guy Please submit remembrances inside. He explained that Bobby was a costume along with your name, year of lthough my college diploma doesn’t read mascot, kind of like dressing up for Halloween. graduation, address and telephone Northwest, I’ve always considered myself Relief came over me as I realized that I would number to Mitzi Lutz, editor, A Northwest Alumni Magazine, to be a true Bearcat. I grew up in Maryville, next not be a man-eating bearcat’s next victim, and I Alumni House, Maryville, MO door to the old Sigma Tau Gamma house, and my could go on to enjoy my birthday party in safety! 64468-6001 or by e-mail to dad, David Howell ’73, is a proud supporter of Meagan Howell [email protected]. his alma mater. Do you remember these events? 1958 198 1978 1988 1998 Classes for the fall semes- Northwest dress codes are Northwest’s new all- Dr. Shaila Aery, Missouri’s The Bearcat football team ter are $5 per credit hour. relaxed, and women are weather track is named for commissioner of higher defeats Carson-Newman With fees, textbooks and allowed to wear slacks in 1930s track star Herschel education, suggests clos- College 24-6 in the NCAA room and board included, the library. The curfew for Neil. Transitions: A Hun- ing Northwest. State Sen. Division II National Cham- a semester’s total tuition women is extended, and dred Years of Northwest Pat Danner says, “Read my pionship game in Florence, is about $243.