MISSOURI WATCH: RUSSELL WAS RENAISSANCE MAN FOR STATE

He was the right man at the right time in the right job.

For the past five years Dr. George Russell has led an academic renaissance that revived, restored and reinvigorated our state's premier higher education complex, the four-campus University of Missouri system.

From November 1991 until just a few days ago, the system was directed by a man whose appointment five years ago surprised, even shocked, a vast majority of the citizens of this state. Moving quickly to perform a kind of academic magic that is rarely seen on most of the nation's campuses these days, Dr. Russell's Missouri audience was transformed from a condition of shock and surprise to one of support and admiration.

To understand what a magnificent job this native Missourian has performed for the state universities at Columbia, Rolla, Kansas City and St. Louis, one has to understand the system's condition back in 1991. It was not good, and the litany of problems was a lengthy one.

All four campuses, and particularly the one at Columbia, were losing competent and respected educators who were being tempted by higher salaries in other states and by private institutions within our own state. The list of professors and researchers who had moved to greener pastures was both long and disturbing to those who had the best interests of this venerable system at heart.

The physical plants at all four campuses were deteriorating despite a temporary infusion of new construction from a statewide bond issue in the 1970s. What was missing was a steady, dependable source of funds to maintain buildings, some of which dated back to the last century, and adequate funding for equipment that is extremely essential for both research and library services.

To compound the University of Missouri's numerous problems was its image within the state Capitol at Jefferson City, particularly on the third floor where far too many legislators expressed their disregard for university administrators and the seeming academic indifference to the value of a taxpayer dollar. During this discouraging period it was not unusual for the four-campus system to receive appropriations that were smaller than the ones voted the previous year, with no allowance made for inflation or increased service demands. Lawmakers often vented their frustrations by purposely lowering appropriations as a form of punishment for perceived administration incompetence.

At this moment, during some of the most trying hours in the system's history, almost rivaling the early disastrous fire that destroyed virtually everything but the still standing columns, George Russell took up the gauntlet and began what he called a five-year plan to restore the luster of a once proud and now greatly expanded academic system.

If you read the list of accomplishments since 1991, you will begin to understand what a magnificent job has been performed on behalf of all Missourians by this single native of the swamplands of Southeast Missouri. Behind and beyond an almost unbelievable number of improvements has been the man himself, evidencing more character and leadership than is probably legal. It is possible to recognize in this renaissance man the idealized qualities of everyone's picture of a perfect grandfather, although this man never evidences the physical characteristics of someone in his seventh decade.

With a full grasp of what needed to be done and where he was going, George Russell has given Missourians the best university system this state has ever had, and he has done it both economically and extravagantly. The economy has been in what has been needed from the taxpayers, and the benefits of a workable plan have produced results that are, indeed, most extravagant. The Univerity of Missouri system is now one of the best in the nation and the principal architect, taskmaster and coach has been the man who has now stepped down as president.

Missourians can never repay Dr. Russell for his vast contributions, and even if they could, the man would not accept payment. Until just recently, he would tell you the job he was doing was "fun" and that was recompense enough. Now he will have an opportunity for some personal enjoyment and there are more than five million beneficiaries who gratefully wish him Godspeed.

~Jack Stapleton of Kennett is the editor of the Missouri News and Editorial Service.