Real estate broker tapped for Southeast Missouri State regents

A local businessman who is well-known to Southeast Missouri State University and the community has been appointed to the university's board of regents by Gov. Jay Nixon.

Thomas M. Meyer was announced as the board's newest appointed member Friday in a news release from the governor's office. Meyer, a Democrat, is a longtime Cape Girardeau businessman, owner of Thomas M. Meyer Realty and recent former president of the university's alumni association. Meyer will replace Al Spradling, whose term expired in January.

The seven-member board of regents appoints the university's president, employs faculty and staff and makes decisions on the university's budget and policies.

Meyer has served on various boards for the university, including those of the foundation, the foundation's advisory council and the president's council, as well as on various committees for area public and private schools and community agency boards and committees.

Bill Holland, the university foundation's executive director, said Meyer has been a great advocate to the university on awareness of veterans' issues and has always had in the forefront of his mind how to help students.

"He was always very aware and supportive of making sure the diversity of the university alumni association was well represented," Holland said.

Meyer said his service on the board will be a natural move for him and that he hopes his experience working in finance and perspective in working with small business will be an asset to the board.

"We're very pleased to have Tom on the board," said university president Dr. Ken Dobbins. "He really loves the university and the students, and we look forward to working with him."

Dobbins said Spradling has showed continuous support of the university and that it is something he knows will not change.

Spradling served as vice president of the board during major appropriations reductions for the university and did a tremendous job, Dobbins said.

The board may again face challenges in the next year with state appropriations as the governor and general assembly look at ways to balance the state's budget. Nixon recently proposed a plan to use reserves from state universities to bolster the state's budget numbers. Any move to lend the state money from Southeast's reserves would have to go through the board of regents, Dobbins said when Nixon's idea was announced.

Spradling, a former mayor of Cape Girardeau, served nearly seven years on the board and also voiced support of Meyer's appointment.

"He'll make a good regent," Spradling said. "He has been very active with the university for a long time, and he'll do a fine job and hopefully continue all the things we've been working on."

Members are allowed to continue to serve until they are reappointed or another nominee is appointed. Spradling reapplied for his seat in August 2010.

Meyer's appointment and that of recently appointed and sworn-in new member Kendra Neely-Martin, a Democrat from St. Louis, require confirmation by the Senate in January. Neely-Martin was appointed by the governor in November to fill the seat of Reginald Dickson, whose term also expired at the start of the year.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

One University Plaza, Cape Girardeau, MO