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Rob Hill photo
Hometown:
St. Louis, Mo. Currently resides in Baltimore
Years at Mizzou: 1987-88
Degree : Master's degree
in education (earned a bachelor's degree in education from University
of Missouri-St. Louis, 1987)
Spouse: Gloria Blackmon
Daughter: Glenda Blackmon
Career: Agent, State Farm Insurance
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Blackmon
Begins
New MU Journey
By Tori Reneker
Moving to Kansas after graduation, new Mizzou
Alumni Association President Titus Blackmon learned early
on that college rivalries never die. He continued sharing and
defending his Tiger pride in Topeka, Kan., always remembering
his favorite Mizzou memories. He now resides in Baltimore with
his family.
How did you become involved in
the Mizzou Alumni Association?
Blackmon: I became involved in the association in 1997
in Topeka. There were a few of us hearty souls ready to march
forward next door to KU. The Topeka
chapter is a great chapter with people so very dedicated to
our University.
What do you expect to be your
biggest challenge as you begin your term?
Blackmon: My biggest challenge will be managing some
of the issues that confront the association while living so far
away. The MAA staff are top-drawer, leading-edge professionals.
The volunteer leaders are committed to our Flagship University
and our alumni. Together we will get the job done seamlessly.
Who was your role model at the
beginning of your career?
Blackmon: My role model was my sister Linda Pierce, BA
'87. She began working for State Farm two years before I did.
She was a cheerleader at Mizzou. When I began working for State
Farm I was living in Salina, Kan. Most of the other people in
the office were either KU or Kansas State grads. We would get
into school fight song battles. I would put my sister on speakerphone,
and together we would take them on.
Why did you choose to attend
Mizzou?
Blackmon: I fell in love
with Mizzou my junior year of high school. I attended Riverview
Gardens High School in St. Louis, and our football coach brought
us up to Mizzou to watch the Black and Gold game. He encouraged
us to walk around the campus. I thought it was incredible! The
other reason was due to my desire to earn a master's degree in
sports business or athletic administration. The athletic administration
degree program did not have teeth at that time, and the dean of
the Health and Physical Education department told me we could
construct a program together modeled after programs in existence
at other universities.
What are some of your most vivid
memories as a Mizzou student?
Blackmon: My most vivid memories pretty much surrounded
some of the sporting events. I remember how much fun basketball
games were then. In fact one of my fondest and most embarrassing
moments happened in Brewer Fieldhouse.
I had a rule back then that even though I
worked in the gym as a graduate assistant, I did not participate
in pick-up games. However, it was my last day on campus, and I
thought, "what the heck." Well wouldn’t you know
it was a game that included some of MU's basketball players. One
of those players was Anthony Peeler. During the game – I
must have had delusions of grandeur for a moment – I decided
to drive to the basket and lay it up. Halfway through the paint,
Peeler steps in front of me. Well my senses grabbed hold me, and
I decided instead to pull up and shoot the jumper. It was beautiful!
My best fade away! I planned to tell everyone about how I shot
over Anthony Peeler. Mr. Peeler saw it differently. He not only
blocked the ball, but caught it mid-air and threw a pass to his
teammate all in the same motion.
What in the world was I thinking?!
How very cool!
Which MU professor or class left
a major impact on your life?
Blackmon: I love numbers and studying data and statistics.
One of my favorite classes was an educational statistics class.
It has been a long time, so I can't remember the professor’s
name.
What campus and alumni association
events are you looking forward to this fall?
Blackmon: I am very much looking forward to Tiger Walk
(when freshmen walk through the Columns to signify their entry
into Mizzou) and Homecoming.
As president of the MAA Board
of Directors, what will be the top items on your agenda?
Blackmon: My agenda will be filled with lots of things,
but probably the item at the top of the list will be succession
planning for our volunteer board. We recently restructured the
board so it ties in with the next phase of our future leadership.
How would you like to see MU grow?
Blackmon: I would love to see
Mizzou grow as a destination university. We are recruiting the
best students on the planet and the best professors and researchers.
Our For All We Call Mizzou
campaign rivals those of the top public and private universities
in the country. We have incredible leadership in the Chancellor's
office. I look forward to the day when the University of
Missouri is consistently mentioned in the same breath as the top
10 universities in the United States. Don’t you?
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Last Update:
April 1, 2008
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