ALTENBURG MAN GETS GRADUATE DEGREE AFTER 60 YEARS OF STUDY

Vernon Meyr began an educational journey in 1940 at Southeast Missouri State University. Now, 60 years later, he has realized his dream.

Dr. Kenneth Dobbins, president of Southeast, presented a master of arts degree in history to Meyr, 79, during a recent ceremony at the Lutheran Home, where Meyr now resides.

"This individual is probably the most persistent person I have met," Dobbins told the group of well-wishers on hand for the occasion.

"It's quite a story," said Dr. Frank Nickell, director of Southeast's Center for Regional History, who has served as Meyr's advisor. "I don't suppose there has been another person in the history of the institution who has taken courses over such a long period of time. Vernon is a kind of special person."

An Altenburg native, Meyr graduated from Perryville HIgh School in 1940 and went on to accept a position at the Bank of Altenburg.

"He always wanted to go to college," Nickell said, but when the bank position was offered to him, his parents encouraged him to pursue it.

Shortly after he began working at the bank, Meyr enrolled in his first course at Southeast in 1940. He continued taking one course a semester until he earned a bachelor of science degree in general studies in 1983. But Meyr wanted something more. He longed for a degree in history.

So Meyr returned to Southeast, finally earning a bachelor of arts degree in history in 1990. Upon completion of his second undergraduate degree, Meyr set his mind to work again.