Dr. Warren C. Lovinger, A Warrensburg Leader and Past President of UCM

 

WARRENSBURG - 8/02/2006 - Warren C. Lovinger, who served as president of University of Central Missouri from 1956-1979, died Sunday, July 30, at the age of 91.

Funeral Service Planned for Thursday, Aug. 3, 2006

Warren C. Lovinger

Funeral services are planned for 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 3, at the First Baptist Church in Stover. MO. He resided on a farm in that community with his wife, Dorothy, since the time of his retirement from UCM. The family will receive friends from 10-11 a.m. Thursday at the church. Burial with military honors will be in the Stover Cemetery.

UCM Experienced Growth Under His Leadership

Lovinger served as UCM’s 10th president. Under his leadership, academic standards were raised and the curriculum was widened considerably after he took office, including the establishment of the Education Specialist degree. The institution also realized its largest student growth, with enrollment climbing from 2,000 to nearly 10,000, and faculty and staff members increased from 100 to 565. He added professional academic advisement in 1961.

Construction Met Needs of Growing Enrollment

During his tenure, the campus grew faster and larger than any other regional state university in Missouri, from 181 acres to 960 acres. An extensive residence hall system was built during the Lovinger years, as well as most of the campus classroom and recreational facilities, including Garrison Gymnasium, University Union, Morris Science Building, Alumni Memorial Chapel, Utt Building, Grinstead Building, Wood-Martin Building, Physical Plant Building, Multipurpose Building and the Education Building, which became the Lovinger Education Building during his retirement.

New Opportunities for Students Created

The university acquired Skyhaven Airport (now Max B. Swisher Skyhaven Airport) and Pertle Springs park, and several other facilities expanded and modernized, including vast expansion to the Ward Edwards Library. In addition, former public radio station KCMW-FM (now KTBG-FM 90.9) increased its power to become a 100,000-watt stereo station, and the university acquired KMOS-TV, channel 6.

International Leader in Higher Education

Lovinger also took a leadership role in higher education nationally serving as a former president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. As AASCU’s president in 1975, he led a 22-member delegation on a 21-day visit to the People’s Republic of China, making AASCU the first organization of its type to represent American higher education on such a pioneer project.

Memorial Contributions

Memorial contributions may be made to the Dr. Warren C. Lovinger UCM Graduate Scholarship in care of the Scrivner-Morrow Funeral Home, Stover.