Members of the campus community at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) are mourning the passing of former chancellor Dr. Marvin O. Looney.
Looney, who served as chancellor from 1991 to 1998, passed away Monday, September 29, at the age of 97.
“From his time as a student on the Springfield campus to his eight-year tenure at MSU-WP, Dr. Looney made a difference across the state of Missouri and beyond. The impact of his passion for education that is still felt today,” Chancellor Zora Mulligan remarks.
Looney embarked on a 45-year career in education beginning in 1949 when he began teaching high school classes while working toward his bachelor’s degree in education from Missouri State University, then Southwest Missouri State College. His career in education took him all over the country with positions at Gainesville High School, Central Missouri State University, Kellogg Community College in Michigan, Mahoning Community College in Ohio, Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, University of Alaska at Anchorage and finally Missouri State-West Plains, then Southwest Missouri State University-West Plains.
On July 1, 1990, Looney began work as acting dean of MSU-WP before being named Chancellor on July 1, 1991.
During Looney’s tenure at MSU-WP:
- The campus expanded with the completion of the renovation of Garnett Library and Kellett Hall, donation of Drago Hall and Putnam Student Center and new state-funded buildings, including Melton Hall and Lybyer Hall.
- MSU-WP received state authorization for an expanded mission and for the offering of five new associate of applied science degrees.
- The campus received its first stand-alone accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA).
- The first campus commencement ceremony was held.
- Faculty Senate was established.
- The Missouri State-West Plains Mountain Grove campus was established.
- Enrollment increased by 105 percent from 645 students in the fall of 1989 to 1,320 students in the fall of 1997.
- Increased the budget by 169 percent, receiving more than $7 million in new construction funds from the Missouri Legislature, marking the first funds ever issued by the Legislature for new construction at Missouri State-West Plains.
- Over $2 million dollars in private donations were raised.
- Grizzly Athletics was launched, which included men’s basketball, women’s volleyball, and the Grizzly Cheer Team. The Grizzly Booster Club was also formed to raise scholarship funds for the program.
Missouri State-West Plains honored Looney in 1998 with the renaming of Central Hall to M.O. Looney Hall. The building houses the Nursing & Allied Health program, the Marvin Fowler Lecture Hall and the state-of-the-art Gammill Nursing Simulation Lab.
“Dr. Looney began a movement that changed the face of the campus, making it appeal to students nationally and globally with the addition of Grizzly Athletics,” Rachel Peterson, Director of Athletics said. “That growth also led to the construction for our first residence hall and created a full-campus experience for our students. Through his efforts and those specific developments, he gave the community of West Plains and the surrounding area new ways to engage with Missouri State-West Plains. He remained committed to the work of the campus following his retirement. Dr. Looney was my chancellor during my time as a student. He had the best smile, kindest eyes and a genuine concern for our educational success. He will be missed.”
Visitation service for Looney will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, at First Christian Church in Gainesville, Missouri, followed by the funeral service at 2 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church and left at the church or the funeral home or mailed to P.O. Box 125, Gainesville, MO 65655.
