| From
the Oct 27, 2005, edition of 'Northwest News' Newsletter.
by Dana Ternus
Eleanor Roosevelt
and former President Truman chat during an informal meeting
in Truman’s Independence, Mo., office in 1960. Photo courtesy
of the Franklin D.
Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Over the years,
Northwest has played host to many well-known scholars, artists,
performers, thinkers and political figures. The list of noteworthy
campus visitors includes, among many others, President Harry S.
Truman, political activist Jesse Jackson and poet Maya Angelou.
That tradition continued this fall when
F.W. de Klerk, former president of South Africa and winner of
the Nobel Peace Prize, spoke to a large crowd of students, faculty,
staff and area residents in Mary Linn Auditorium.
On Feb. 13, 1959, however, Northwest welcomed
a political and social figure of such stature that she was, at
the time, arguably the most famous woman in the world.
Former first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt was
greeted at the St. Joseph railroad station by Student Senate President
B.D. Owens – the same Owens who later served as Northwest’s
president (1977-1984) and for whom the B.D. Owens Library is named.
Once on campus, young Owens escorted Mrs.
Roosevelt on a tour of the University and introduced her to members
of the faculty and administration – but not to President
J.W. Jones, who was in Jefferson City meeting with state lawmakers.
Instead, Northwest’s own first lady, Mildred Jones, hosted
a luncheon in Mrs. Roosevelt’s honor.
Mrs. Roosevelt had come to Northwest to
make a speech, which she did before an audience of more than 1,250
students, faculty and staff crammed into the old Administration
Building auditorium. Her topic was America’s leadership
role in the post-World War II world.
A few days later in her syndicated newspaper
column, “My Day,” Mrs. Roosevelt wrote at some length
about her experiences in Maryville and expressed warm thanks to
those who helped make her visit an enjoyable one.
Speakers such as Mrs. Roosevelt and President
de Klerk allow Northwest students and faculty to broaden their
horizons and view important issues and events from a fresh perspective.
Such opportunities are frequently provided
through the University’s Distinguished Lecture Series, which
continues this spring with an appearance by Dr. Bob Arnot, medical
anchor of CNBC’s dLife and prize-winning foreign correspondent.
Arnot is scheduled to speak at 8 p.m. Monday, March 5, in the
Performing Arts Center.
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