Alumni news
CMU mourns the loss of Bob Siler ’47 Robert L. Siler has been a very close friend to all who are Central Methodist University. As friend, supporter, benefactor, he remained true to all things Central. Bob Siler died May 14, 2013, in Mountain Brook, Ala. Bob Siler was born Nov.18, 1924, in Kansas City, Mo. It wasn’t until after WWII that Bob began his college education at Central College (now CMU). He graduated in 1947 and a year later became principal of Fayette Public Schools. He received his M.A. from Peabody College for Teachers at Vanderbilt in Nashville in 1948. In 1950, he began work for the Ralston Purina Company and was there until 1973, leaving as vice president of grocery sales distribution. From 1973 to 1991, he was the president and vice chair of Sales Force Company. From 1991 until retirement, Bob was president–management consultant in strategic planning and sales structure—for Siler Associates. He served on the Central Methodist Board of Trustees three times, from 1968-80, from 1981-85, and from 2007-09. In 2002, he helped to create the Unity Award, a town-gown relationship between Fayette High School and Central Methodist University, which awards scholarships to students who graduate from FHS and choose to continue their education at CMU. A Hall of Sponsors scholarship was created in honor of his first wife, Mrs. Dorothy Kendrick Siler ’45, when she died. Another scholarship honors her mother, Mary Huston Kendrick. Bob always obtained information on his scholarship students and corresponded with them. As generous as he has been to Central, he was also generous to those students. He was a “master of the keys” and donated his beloved Steinway piano to CMU’s Swinney Conservatory of Music. He supported the college he loved, contributing to numerous funds across campus. Bob embodied what Central graduates strive to do: make a difference in the world and emphasize academic and professional excellence, ethical leadership, and social responsibility. He will be sorely missed by his friends and colleagues. Elizabeth (Miller) Wallace ’45 of Seahurst, Wash., died June 26, 2013. Frances E. Wear ’46 died May 5, 2013.
William Gail Brewer ’50 of Marceline, Mo., died April 23, 2013.
Gladyce (Chapman) Carpenter ’47 of Saint Louis, Mo., died Dec. 23, 2012.
Dale Wallace Pitney ’50 of Phoenix, Ariz., died July 3, 2013.
Irving Kamil ’47 of Cliffside Park, N.J., died April 26, 2013.
Richard Calvin Pratt ’50 of New Haven, Mo., died May 13, 2013.
Robert L. Siler ’47 (see above)
Nelle (Snyder) Scott ’50 of Hamilton, Mo., died May 16, 2013.
Marjorie (Crane) Berry ’48 of Omaha, Neb., died July 11, 2013. Lois Jane (Bassman) Enloe ’48 of O’Fallon, Mo., died Sep. 16, 2013. Robert Lester Hogge ’48 of California, Mo., died Feb. 11, 2013. Lela (Taylor) Trester ’48 of Kansas City, Mo., died Oct. 10, 2013. Sally F. (Johnson) Page ’49 of Columbia, Mo., died April 11, 2013. Ray Melvin Sennett ’49 of Sheldon, Ill., died March 6, 2013.
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Mary Ruth Jessie Summers ’50 of Excelsior Springs, Mo., died May 17, 2013. R. Fred Leipertz ’51 of Lake Worth, Fla., died Oct. 6, 2013. Grace (Gilliam) Tout ’51 of Barrington, Ill., died Nov. 25, 2012. Dorothy (Bierbaum) Fisher ’52 of Higginsville, Mo., died Sep. 16, 2013. Fred H. Hehmann ’54 of Chesterfield, Mo., died Feb. 3, 2013.
Fall 2013
Central Methodist University
M. Janet (Wetzel) Snyder ’54 of Billings, Mont., died June 4, 2013. Charles Richard Blount ’55 of Columbia, Mo., died Oct. 22, 2013. Edward M. Harper ’55 of Tulsa, Okla., died Jan. 27, 2013. Pat (Dowell) Nichols ’55 of Chillicothe, Mo., died Sep. 29, 2013. Marilyn Yeater Langworthy ’57 of Middletown, Ohio, died Sept. 21, 2013. Joan (Kleeman) Detmer ’58 of Florissant, Mo., died Aug. 20, 2013. C. Richard Roda ’58 of Springfield, Mo., died Sept. 3, 2013. Eugene E. Rudd ’58 of Alexandria, Va., died Sept. 13, 2013. Patricia (McCown) Beckerman ’59 of Naples, Fla., died April 29, 2013. E. Jack Estes ’59 of Seneca, S.C., died May 23, 2013.
Talon