Mizzou’s annual retirees luncheon is always an event where former faculty and staff can get together for a meal and a few hours of sharing memories about the good old days.
At this year’s retiree luncheon, held May 18 at the Hearnes Center, Chancellor Brady Deaton and Gary Forsee, University of Missouri System president, were on hand to thank the nearly 250 attendees for their service and their continuing accomplishments.
The highlight of the event each year is the presentation of Retiree of the Year Awards to one retired faculty member and one retired staff member to acknowledge their contributions since retirement. This year, the awards were presented to Robert Marshall, professor emeritus of food science, and to Joyce Lake, the former director of alumni relations for the Mizzou Alumni Association.
Bob Marshall retired from the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources in 1999, where he was especially known for inventing Mizzou’s favorite frozen confection, Tiger Stripe ice cream.
In the 10 years since Marshall retired, colleagues say his record of service to the University, the community and even on the state and national levels make him a model of achievement for retired faculty members.
For nearly a decade, he has been secretary/treasurer of the University Retired Professor of Agriculture Association. “Bob is the glue that holds us together,” says one member of the association. Marshall also has been active in the MU Retirees Association.
He has contributed to the health and early education of young children in mid-Missouri through his service on the board of Golden K Kiwanis, and has been active in projects that benefit pediatric cardiology research and health care an MU Children’s Hospital. He remains active in many professional dairy organizations, a leader in the Future Farmers Association and a judge at many Missouri Sate Fair dairy competitions.
Joyce Lake retired from the alumni association in 1999. Friends and colleagues say that “generosity” is the best adjective to describe Lake because she continues to give freely of her time as well as donating generously to the For All We Call Mizzou campaign.
Lake was the first charitable gift annuity donor to the university.
In 2006, she was a member of the planning committee for the alumni association’s 150th anniversary celebration. Every week, Lake staffs the information desk in the Reynolds Alumni Center and is always ready to answer questions and give directions to visitors.
In her home community of Boonville, Lake volunteers for school and youth organizations, provides food to shut-ins and rides for Boonville’s elderly citizens. She also sings in the choir and works in the office at the First Presbyterian Church in Columbia. Colleagues say her volunteerism, energy and productivity “bleeds black and gold.”