CARL BEN BIDEWELL REFLECTS ON REWARDS AS EDUCATION LEADER

POPLAR BLUFF -- Carl Ben Bidewell, one of the area's major proponents of public education, stepped down as president of the Board of Regents of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau late last month, after six years on the board.

"It was very rewarding, hoping you could promote policies that were good for the youth. Education is the answer to the problems of the United States and the world. It was an exciting six years."

Bidewell, a member of the first board of Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff in 1966, witnessed Southeast's admission requirements begin to rival regional four-year schools during his tenure.

"The biggest step," said Bidewell, "was becoming a Division I school. It's one of those things that gave the school a different stature, not only in athletics but also academically."

Southeast became a NCAA Division I team in 1991.

Bidewell has a unique perspective of area education; Three Rivers and Southeast are collaborating on joint projects such as the Bootheel Educational Center in Malden, and eventually, some four-year degrees from Three Rivers.

"The Bootheel Educational Center is a boon both to Three Rivers and SEMO," related Bidewell. "I can see big things for both of them."

"Although they're still working on it, in five years or so there will be programs worked out so people can get four-year degrees at Three Rivers," said Bidewell. "It's still on the drawing board. The School of Nursing is already an example of that."

Bidewell served on the board of regents through the terms of two administrations, Bill Stacy's and Bill Foster's, and stepped down during the tenure of Kala Stroup, Southeast's current president.

"That was a tremendous thrill," added Bidewell. "Dr. Stroup has done a tremendous job, a good job of selling the university."

"He did an outstanding job for the institution," said President Stroup. "I think one of the things he is proudest of is the fundrasing effort and success of the capital campaign, which brought $28.5 million to the school. He also helped establish and assure the success of the Bootheel Educational Center on state level and in the communities of the Bootheel."

Stroup added Bidewell "played a very active and substantial role in moving the school to Division I in intercollegiate athletics. We are very grateful for his years of service."

Bidewell was good friends with former president Stacy. Their friendship goes back to when Stacy was a coach at Malden, and Bidewell supplied the school with sports equipment from his store in Poplar Bluff.

"It was the furthest thing from my mind," Bidewell said about being asked to become a board member. "I had no idea."

"If it had not been for Bill's encouragement, I probably wouldn't have done it."

"One thing you have to realize is that a board member's time is donated," added Bidewell. "It's a very time consuming effort."

Bidewell was born in Lutesville and was graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in English. Between high school and the University of Missouri, Bidewell was a Navy pilot in World War II, skimming 200 feet over the coast of China in a patrol bomber.

"We weren't afraid of the enemy only the weather," Bidewell joked.

His athletic prowess in high school and college (he was the center on the 1943 Southeast national champion basketball team before entering Mizzou) "came in handy in the service a lot of the athletes got out of physical training."

In the service, his unit's basketball team was the best in the Naval Air Corps. Bidewell went to Mizzou on a basketball scholarship.

"The first week-and-a-half I was there, I slept in a cot in the Municipal Light and Power building." In 1946, he said Mizzou had 5,000 places of residency for 16,500 students.

In 1948, Bidewell coached basketball at Poplar Bluff High School and was the assistant football coach. Later he sold sporting goods and became involved with the formation of Three Rivers.

"That (Three Rivers) is my secret love," said Bidewell.

During his term on the board of regents at Southeast, Bidewell noted, "We encouraged students to go to junior colleges, then to a four-year school. It's easier financially, and they can find out if they want to go or are capable of going to college."

"That's becoming universal. Mizzou's a good example. They're now encouraging only the upper 15 percent of high school classes to apply for admission."

Bidewell said at a community college, "Students are more than just a number."