timore Orioles’ farm system and suiting up for the St. Louis Hawks of the NBA, Stewart got his first coaching job at the State College of Iowa before returning to his alma mater in 1967 to coach the men’s basketball team. During his 32-year head coaching tenure (634-333 overall), “Stormin’ Norman” led MU to eight Big Eight Conference championships, six Big Eight tournament titles and 16 NCAA Tournament appearances, including two trips to the Elite Eight. To this day, Stewart remains synonymous with Mizzou hoops; the Tigers play on Mizzou Arena’s Norm Stewart Court. Andrew Cherng, MS ’72, and Peggy Cherng, MS ’71, PhD ’74 Mizzou students come from across the country and around the world. Born in China, Andrew Cherng lived in Taiwan and Japan before earning a bachelor’s degree from Baker University in Kansas. His wife, Peggy, was born in Myanmar and raised in Hong Kong before attending Baker, where the couple met. The pair then earned graduate degrees at Mizzou. Andrew and Peggy married shortly afterward and in 1983 founded Panda Restaurant Group, which operates the Panda Express chain of more than 1,900 restaurants. Known for its quick-service Asian cuisine, as well as its commitment to employees’ personal development, Forbes named Panda Restaurant Group one of America’s best employers. The Cherngs also are members of the National Restaurant Association’s Hall of Fame. With a Panda Express restaurant just minutes from Jesse Hall at 91 Conley Road, the Cherngs’ spirit is never far from campus. — Eric Ferguson
HALL OF FAME HIGHLIGHTS 1954 - Norm Stewart plays on MU’s College World Series champion baseball team. 1956 - Stewart graduates from MU. 1967 - Stewart becomes Mizzou’s head men’s basketball coach. 1971 - Peggy Cherng earns master’s degree at Mizzou. 1972 - Andrew Cherng earns master’s degree at Mizzou. 1974 - Peggy Cherng earns doctorate at Mizzou. 1975 - Andrew and Peggy Cherng marry. 1976 – Stewart wins first of eight Big Eight regular-season championships. 1978 – Stewart wins first of six Big Eight tournament championships.
1983 - The Cherngs open the first Panda Express. 1994 - Stewart leads Tigers to 14-0 record in the Big Eight, a conference title and an Elite Eight appearance. 1999 - Stewart retires as head men’s basketball coach with a 634-333 MU record. 2007 - Stewart inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. 2011 - Panda Express opens its first global restaurant in Mexico City. 2017 – Mizzou Alumni Association induct Cherngs and Stewart into Mizzou Homecoming Hall of Fame.
Join Tigers from the St. Louis area for the Mizzou Fight Tiger Run! Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017 Race Time: 9 a.m. Tower Grove Park Tigers of all ages and abilities are invited to show their stripes by participating in one of the race options. This year we are offering 5K and 10K, plus a 1-mile fun run/walk! Registrants for each race receive an event shirt, finisher medal, plus other Mizzou treats and surprises.
REGISTER AT MIZZOU.COM/STLRUN
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