TRIVIA EXPERT TO SPEAK AT COPPER DOME DINNER

David Strauss, trivia expert and author, will present the address at the annual Copper Dome dinner June 6 at Southeast Missouri State University.

The event, which recognizes donors to the Southeast Missouri University Foundation, will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by a dinner at 7 p.m. in the Show Me Center.

Strauss, born in St. Louis in 1949, holds a bachelor of science degree in education and a master of arts in teaching, both from Southeast. Since 1972, he has been a teacher in the St. Louis public schools.

A professional writer since 1978, Strauss has authored trivia books and has had articles and quizzes published in more than 90 newspapers around the country. His "Trivia I.Q." column ran in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch for more than six years. Strauss also created a feature called "First, Last & Only" which ran in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch for nearly two years.

Strauss is a frequent guest speaker in the St. Louis area, addressing civic, corporate and charitable organizations.

In the spring of 1978, Strauss captained the championship team in the 11th annual University of Colorado at Boulder Trivia Bowl. He was inducted into the Trivia Hall of Fame. He and the other members of his team later appeared on "The Tomorrow Show" with Tom Snyder. Strauss also has made appearances on both commercial and cable television.

Possessing a personal library of more than 3,500 books on entertainment, sports, music and other topics, Strauss is able to research virtually any trivia topic. He also has a videotape library of more than 4,000 films and more than 2,500 television episodes.

In 1978, Strauss appeared as a guest for the first time on KMOX radio in St. Louis. He made more than 1,000 appearances on that station as "Mr. Trivia." His co-host for more than 12 years was the late Art Fleming, long-time host of "Jeopardy." Their program was the number-one rated program on Sunday nights in the St. Louis market.

Strauss has made nearly 200 appearances as a phone-in guest on other radio programs around the country, including in Boston, Miami, Des Moines and Dallas.

He won the "Trivia Unlimited" magazine Individual Championship three times and captained winning teams for two years running while in college.

Making his home in south St. Louis County, Strauss spends his free time working on his first novel, reading about the Civil War and trying to watch two movies a day.