SMS becomes Missouri State University

The new name will officially take effect Aug. 28. ~ The Associated Press

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Gov. Matt Blunt has signed legislation bestowing the name of Missouri State University on the Springfield school currently known as Southwest Missouri State University.

Blunt signed the bill privately at the Capitol, then participated in a ceremonial signing later Thursday with a few hundred people at the university. Governors commonly sign the official copy of a bill at the Capitol to ensure there are no glitches when holding ceremonies elsewhere.

Blunt is a native of the Springfield area and has been a strong advocate of the name change, which the university had pursued for about two decades before finally winning legislative approval two weeks ago.

Blunt said the name is catching up with the school.

"The name really reflects what the school already is. It's going to help bring people here," he said at the signing ceremony.

The new name will take effect Aug. 28.

Blunt waited until the final day possible to sign the bill because it coincided with the university's centennial celebration. When the Springfield school was formed in 1905, it was named "State Normal School No. 4."

The legislation also replaces the title "college" with "university" for Missouri Western State in St. Joseph and Harris-Stowe State in St. Louis, and it drops the city designator from Missouri Southern State University-Joplin.

Additionally, the bill allows the Board of Governors at Central Missouri State University to decide whether to change the Warrensburg school's name to the University of Central Missouri.

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University bill is SB98.

On the Net:

Legislature: http://www.moga.state.mo.us