Officials at Southeast Missouri State University recently observed an important anniversary: The 90th birthday anniversary of Dr. Mark Scully, president of the institution from 1956 to 1975. The observance of this happy occasion was held at Wildwood, the former president's home occupied during his tenure by Scully and his late wife Pearl. Scully was released from the hospital in time for the birthday party.

In ways too numerous to recount, Scully left his imprint on what was called, for most of those years, Southeast Missouri State College. Upon his arrival during the mid-1950s, the college had only 10 buildings and 1,500 students. When he departed 19 years later, the campus had grown to 22 buildings and enrollment had reached 8,000 students.

Scully was famous for his frugal approach to operations -- he ran the school with a mere handful of administrators -- and for a passionate commitment to keeping the school affordable for students from Southeast Missouri. It is true that one time Scully went to Jefferson City and actually told appropriations committee members in the General Assembly that he didn't need as much money as they were preparing to send his way. Such a true story, nearly unimaginable from any university official at any school today, guaranteed Scully's credibility with powerful appropriators from the House and Senate.

Scully's tenure saw the establishment, at his urging, of a Faculty Senate so that faculty members could participate in the decision-making process. He also oversaw the establishment of an associate nursing degree program.

Scully, who is a Charleston native and retains many friends from there and throughout the region, was the university's first graduate to serve as president. We salute him for his years of effective service to the school that is so important to us all and wish him much continued happiness in retirement.