Alumni

June 11, 2019

A Life of Service and Innovation

Robert J. Jones, chancellor of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, has an inspiring list of professional accomplishments over his years in higher education, first as a researcher and teacher, and now as a leader. Still, he says the achievement of receiving an honorary degree from the University of Missouri last December was near the top of that list. Jones received his PhD from the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources in crop physiology in 1978. “I can tell you it was one of the highlights of my professional career,” he said of the honor, which…

Oct. 11, 2016

All in the Family

Everything in John Clay’s office has a story. In one corner, there’s the dictionary that dates back to 1934 that was used primarily for Scrabble word challenges by his great aunts and uncles. “It looked this new when I was a baby,” Clay quips of the giant book that rests on a stand that was once in the foyer of his family’s former homestead, built in 1892 by his great grandfather, John Moore Clay, and known as “El Moro.” The house accidentally burned down in recent years. On another wall, there’s a replica of fireplace mantle made…

April 29, 2013

The Burgers’ Bench

The Burger Family of California, Mo., warmed hearts the chilly morning of April 20 during the Morris and Dolores Burger tribute bench dedication hosted by CAFNR.