LOW ENDOWS SPEECH LECTURE

The Southeast Missouri State University speech communication and theatre department has been named the recipient of an endowment established by Mildred I. Low in the name of her son, Dr. Joe H. Low Jr.

Joe Low is a speech professor in his 34th year of teaching at Southeast.

The exact amount of the endowment wasn't disclosed. But school officials said Mildred Low has made two, five-figure donations over the past two years and expects to make similar donations to the endowment in future years.

The Low Endowment for Speech Communication is intended to provide funds for an annual speech communications lecture.

"We hope that the lectures this endowment funds will create interest in and public awareness of public speaking," said Dr. Tom Harte, department chairman.

The endowment is unusual because it is named for a current faculty member. Most endowments are named for former faculty members.

Low began as an assistant professor of speech communication and theatre in 1962.