SEMO GETS READY TO CELEBRATE 125 YEARS

For nearly 125 years, Southeast Missouri State University has been an integral part of the community and region.

The impact of the university on the region has been nothing short of remarkable. It has helped Southeast Missouri prosper through expanded educational opportunities.

Last week marked the 125th anniversary of the signing of a bill by Gov. Silas Woodson to establish the Third District Normal School.

The university will gear up its celebration for the quasquicentennial during the 1998-99 school year. The theme for the celebration, which kicks off in August, will be "Honoring Yesterday -- Creating Tomorrow."

Most people take the university for granted, not stopping to think what Southeast Missouri would have been without its presence.

But consider this:

Just over 125 years ago, the competition was fierce for the new state college that was to be built south of St. Louis. The college almost went to Arcadia in Iron County.

Today Arcadia is a small town of about 600 people. But in 1873, it rivaled another small town: Cape Girardeau.

Until the turn of the century, state funding for state colleges was meager. A community was expected to bid to build and operate the school.

Cape Girardeau and Iron counties weren't alone in wanting the school. Interest also came from St. Francois, Madison, Jefferson and Ste. Genevieve Counties.

Byrd Township -- forerunner of the city of Jackson -- also sought the college. Citizens voted to raise $50,000 to secure the school well before a similar vote passed in Cape Girardeau. And the school might have well gone to Jackson except the law didn't allow townships to issue bonds.

Then the bidding came down to Cape Girardeau and Arcadia. The vote by the new board of regents was close: 4-3 in favor of Cape Girardeau.

But a number of local residents also deserve special praise for their role in securing funding to build the school. The city of Cape Girardeau was heavily in debt, and some city board members questioned whether Cape Girardeau could afford to finance the school.

Judge Alexander Ross saved the day. He asked the city board to wait 90 minutes. In that time, he secured a guarantee of the bond sale from merchant Otto Buehrmann and banker Robert Sturdivant.

Cheers to Ross, Buehrmann and Sturdivant and everyone else who fought to bring the state college to the region. Cape Girardeau would be a far different place today if not for their actions 125 years ago.

When the official celebration begins in the fall, the community will join in wholeheartedly. Southeast Missouri State University is a treasure the region shouldn't take for granted.