Great town-gown partnership

Cape Girardeau and its citizens have been and continue to be blessed by truly outstanding mayoral leadership. Both former mayor Al Spradling III and current Mayor Jay Knudtson have provided enormous talent, insight and vision during some very difficult times.

Southeast Missouri State University also has benefited by virtue of the fact that both mayors have recognized the enormous value of having a quality university in their city. Because of a special relationship between these two city leaders and the current university leadership, both the city and the university have continued to grow and prosper.

Visitors to the city and university almost instantly recognize the power of the positive town-gown relationship. Visitors from other universities are quite envious of this kind of relationship. The citizens of the city and the students at the university are the real beneficiaries.

An additional reality has added immeasurably to the nature of this town-gown relationship: the continuous high-level leadership of the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce.

And this longstanding town-gown relationship has benefited enormously from the longstanding leadership of the university's governing board.

The city, the chamber and the university: a truly great partnership for a better and brighter future for all involved.

DALE NITZSCHKE, Milford, Ohio (former president of Southeast Missouri State University)