DON HARRISON HONORED AS UNIVERSITY `FRIEND'

Donald L. Harrison, president of the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents, has been named "Friend of the University."

The annual award is the highest honor bestowed by the Southeast Missouri State University Foundation. It recognizes those who support and who are closely associated with the mission, purposes, plans and programs of the university.

Harrison, a long-time road construction and paving contractor, received the 1993 award from Robert W. Foster, executive director of the foundation, at the annual Copper Dome Breakfast, held at the Show Me Center.

"I consider this a great honor," said Harrison. "I have done my best to be a friend of the university and hope to continue to be.

"I'm a great believer in education and in the contributions that the university makes to the community, both culturally and economically."

Kala Stroup, president of Southeast Missouri State University, announced Harrison's selection for the coveted award.

"Harrison knows everything there is to know about Southeast, because he has been associated with the institution for more than 50 years," said Stroup. "And, during the past four years on the board of regents, he has proven himself to be an individual with a vision for higher education in Southeast Missouri and a man whose quiet manner conceals a firm and decisive leadership style."

Harrison, a Cape Girardeau native, attended the university two years before transferring to Yale University in 1944. Following military service, he returned to Yale, where he graduated in 1948 with a bachelor's degree in history.

"I remember the day I came to the university campus with my $30 tuition," said Harrison. "That was 50 years ago. The faculty was great then, and it's still great today."

Prior to the "Friends" award announcement, Don Ford, director of development for the foundation, and Foster reported a "great year" for the Foundation.

"We reached a new high in cash gifts with $2.6 million," said Ford. "The cash gift total represents a resounding 44 percent increase over the previous year's cash gifts of $1.8 million, which had been the record until this year."

Ford noted increases in all phases of giving categories. Overall current gifts were up to $2.9 million, an increase of 31 percent. Also, Copper Dome Society membership was up 16 percent to 2,336 members, Horizon Club membership was up 31 percent, and Booster's Club membership was up 7 percent.

"During our first year of existence, we received cash gifts of $620,702 and total gifts and pledges of $1,195,340," said Foster of the foundation. "This year, our investment earnings alone totaled $811,472."

Foster added that the endowment had grown from $2.1 million to $7.2 million since 1983. "The Foundation can now boast of assets of $19,620,755," said Foster. "In our 10 years the foundation has issued bonds in the amount of $4.65 million and has acquired real estate in the amount of $7.5 million, all for the benefit of the university."

Harrison, who in 1989 was appointed by former Missouri Gov. John Ashcroft to the university's board of regents, joins a select group of "Friends" of the university. Included on the list is Rush H. Limbaugh Sr., the first "Friend," selected in 1983.

Others are Robert A. Dempster, 1984; Marvin E. Proffer, 1985; Rosemary A. Crisp, 1986; Margaret Woods Allen, 1987; Louis Daniel Brodsky, 1988; Sen. John Dennis, 1989; Anne Bradshaw, 1990; Martin Hecht, 1991; and Delmar A. Cobble, 1992.

Harrison also is familiar with the foundation and its goals. He is a charter member of the Horizon Club, and is a member of the President's Council, a group formed to recognize individuals and businesses for financial commitments. He served as chairman of the "advanced gifts phase" of the "A New Visions of Excellence" capital campaign.

Only last month, the Southeast Missouri State University College of Business was named for Harrison, in recognition for his support of the university and College of Business.

Until the naming of the Donald L. Harrison College of Business, the university had not had a college named for an individual

Harrison's business career started in the 1950s. During the early 1950s, Harrison's family was involved in paving, mining and quarry businesses in Illinois. In 1953, Harrison and his associates began to start new companies to handle the various phases of road building during the era of interstate highway construction.

The new operations were responsible for the building of many miles of primary and interstate highway systems in Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi and Louisiana, including long stretches of Interstate 57 in Illinois, Interstate 70 in Missouri and Interstate 55 in Missouri and Arkansas.

Harrison later pioneered the Delta Group of companies, which specialize in the construction and maintenance of highways. His companies also have succeeded internationally and have been the general contractor for sections of the Pan American Highway in the Republics of Guatemala and El Salvador.

Harrison was principal owner of the Delta Companies and Southern Illinois Companies -- which include Delta Asphalt Inc., Girardeau Contractors Inc., Delta Concrete Inc., and Southeast Missouri Stone Co. -- until January of this year, when he sold them to Colas U.S. Inc.

Harrison remains chairman of the board and chief executive officer and closely involved day-to-day operations of the companies. He also continues to attend meetings of the parent company board.

Harrison is national director of the National Asphalt Pavement Association, founding director of the Missouri Asphalt Pavement Association, and chairman of the community board of AmeriFirst Bank of Cape Girardeau.

He also is a member of the Associated General Contractors of America, Missouri State Highway Engineers Society, Senior Executives Organization of St. Louis and World Presidents Organization.

He is president of the Cape Girardeau Country Club Board of Trustees and a member of the Cape Girardeau Lions Club, Media Club, Mensa Society, Missouri Athletic Club, Racquet Club of St. Louis, Stadium Club of St. Louis, and Yale Clubs of St. Louis and New York.

In addition to his service as a Regent, Harrison has served the Foundation as a member of the board six years, from 1984 to 1990, and last year started another term on the board.

In a note in which Harrison transmitted a gift to the Foundation in 1991, he referred to the university as family, Stroup said.

"The university as a part of his family, and an abiding concern for its future: Those two elements characterize his feeling for this place and make his selection as `Friend of the University' so very appropriate," she said.