@MIZZOU ASKS YOU

Defining Moments

Readers share their defining moments and finest hours at Mizzou …

There were so many great defining moments that choosing one is difficult. However I will always remember one event from Law School. I had completed the first year, and in the fall when I returned for my junior year, I played in a faculty-student golf tournament. I was at the first tee waiting to tee off and Mr. Pittman (“The Fox” to all who remember him) was sitting on his portable seat (anyone who remembers Mr. Pittman can visualize this). I said, “Good morning, Mr. Pittman.” (At that time, that’s how you addressed one of the revered and intimidating professors.) He replied, “Just call me Bill—you’ve earned it.” Although perhaps I had earned it, I’ve always referred to him as “Mr. Pittman.”

– Larry Hannah, BS ME ’61, JD ’65

Always my finest hour was when I did well on a test.

– Jim Alexander, BS EE ’62

My defining moment at MU was when I recognized how much I loved teaching children music, and how I could be happy my entire life being a music teacher!

– Julia Black, BS Ed ’01

It wasn’t my finest moment, but rather THE defining moment for me in college. I was a freshman majoring in engineering and taking a full load that I probably shouldn’t have attempted. After the fifth week of school, I decided to quit. I really hadn’t met any true friends (although my roommate was the best guy, almost like a brother), my grades were awful, and I just wanted to go home.

I walked to the Hearnes Center parking lot to my car (from Hudson/Gillett, quite a lonely walk). As I opened the door, the familiar dome light didn’t turn on, and I had that feeling in my gut. I sat down and turned the key, but nothing happened. It was about 10 on a Friday night, and no one was in sight. As I cursed my car, two guys came walking up and asked if I was having car trouble. I told them “yes,” and they began taking a look. One guy thought it was my battery and asked if I wanted a lift to a 24-hour Wal-Mart. So they took me there. We bought the battery, and I’m thinking to myself, “I have NO idea how to put this thing in my car!”

When we arrived back at the Hearnes parking lot, the guys asked me if I needed help putting the battery in, and of course I said “yes!” Here it was 11 on a Friday night, and these two guys were helping some freshman they didn’t know put a battery in his car. After they finished, I learned that they attended the Baptist Student Union (BSU), and they invited me to some services. As they walked off and I drove away, I remember saying to myself that if these two strangers took their time to help a lonely freshman, then there have to be others like them on campus.

I resolved to make my Mizzou experience the best that I could. Now, eight years after that night, I look back at my time spent at Mizzou as the best years of my life. That one evening, two little hours, changed my life and who I was/am. I loved so many things about that place, and I miss it every day. I met some of the most amazing people, and to this day when I think back to that fateful Friday night (even as I type), I get a little tear in my eye thinking of what I would have missed out on if not for Darin and David. And even more, I think about the person I might not have become. So guys, if you’re reading this, “Thank you!”

– Brian W. Arbuckle, BS BA ’00

My finest hour at the MU J-School was the time I spent one-on-one with Professor Eugene Sharp. He convinced me that I could have a career of “fun and profit” in rural journalism. After a great life in journalism, I can truly say he was right. His guidance was one of life’s finest moments. Thanks, Professor Sharp, wherever you are!

– Glenn Hensley, BJ ’41

My finest moment was passing my comprehensive test in the library science program to obtain my master’s degree. The comp test was all day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

I, along with my friends taking the same test, had to wait a week to find out if we had passed. I remember watching a movie where students took entrance exams to determine if they were going to certain colleges and how hard it was for them to wait to hear what their futures would hold.

The day I heard that the tests had all been graded and the results were posted in the library science office was the longest day of my life. After giving up a great job that I had had for 11 years (the pay wasn’t bad either) and moving to Missouri (leaving all of my family and friends) to earn my graduate degree, I would find out that particular day if all of it was worth it.

I got the test results and discovered that I had the third highest score in the test class. That day at the University of Missouri was a day that I will never forget.

– Darlene G. Ward, MA ’98

I met my wife playing ping pong in what used to be called Tiger Towers in the mid-1970s. That was memorable, and has remained so for almost 30 years.

Another fine moment was when Dr. Herbert Tillema told us the story of how he cut himself shaving when he heard that one of his former teachers, Henry Kissinger, had accepted a position in the Nixon White House.

– Dr. Russell Barclay, BA, BJ ’75

One fine moment for me was when I was the 99th streaker through the Columns the night Mizzou took the National Crown of Streaking in spring 1974. I believe the final tally that night was more than 714 streakers. We broke the record of a North Carolina school set just days before. When we organized the event to break the record, the only way it would be considered “official” was if each streaker was counted. We couldn’t just have a mass of streakers and guess the number. We decided to go one by one through the center of the Columns for the count. I just happened to be No. 99. I gave my clothes to my sister and brother-in-law to hold until my count was registered. There must have been more 10,000 people on the grounds that evening. There was even a “Lady Godiva” with long blonde hair, riding a white horse, nude of course. The party lasted well into the night at Frat Row.

Soon after we won the crown, there was a national crackdown, and mass streaking soon died down. My best Mizzou memory will always be when I was streaker No. 99. My second best memory was obtaining my degree!

– Glenn Feilner, BS ’75

Hearnes Center memories submitted after the April issue of @Mizzou was published …

I echo the comments from the Marching Mizzou alum. I marched from 1989-92, and we would also play a concert before home football games in Hearnes, and afterwards, proceed to the tunnel under the Hearnes and line up to parade march around Faurot. The noise in that tunnel was so incredibly loud, as we were all talking, hollering and doing section cheers to get ready for the game. But most importantly, the drums would start off cadences there. I can still hear it now: the sticks on the drums going CLACK, CLACK, CLACK, echoing against those concrete walls. Just the cadence alone would get anyone psyched for the game. They would open up the doors, and we would come out climbing/marching up that driveway to Mick Deaver Drive. Of course people were lined up on the railing waiting and watching for us come out, and the cadence would transition, never failing, to the GO Cheer: GO! GO! GO! TIGERS GO! GO MIZ-ZOU, BEAT THE JAYHAWKS!!! AHHHHHHHH Hey! Hey! Just recently I was down in the bottom of Hearnes and saw that tunnel again. All of those fond memories came flooding back: M2 Drumline, tunnel, cadence ... need I say more?

– Jeneva Powell

On Jan. 20, 1990, KU was No. 1. Mizzou was No. 4. We had B section seats and didn’t sit in them. We stood for the whole game. Mizzou went on to become the No. 1 team in the land by beating KU 95-87 (as they have done so often in the Hearnes Center). It was so loud in the arena. Even if Mizzou doesn’t have a top-level team, all opponents fear coming to the Hearnes Center. It will be missed.

– Case Hultman, BA ’93

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Last Update: November 15, 2007