Join the MU campus community to celebrate the annual TIME OF THE TIGER - FOUNDERS' CELEBRATION! This campus birthday party for Mizzou will be held Tuesday, February 8, 2005 from 3:30 - 5:00 pm in the Reynolds Alumni Center. Please come wearing your sportiest black and gold attire to honor Mizzou on its 166th birthday. Enjoy snacks, cake, and ice cream with your Mizzou family. Highlights include: Live Music - Viewing a special "For All We Call Mizzou" video - Incredible Door Prizes - Awards for Best Dressed - Campus Office Decorating Party Winners - Truman the Tiger - Golden Girls - MU Spirit Squad - Mini Mizzou Band - Meeting members of the Founding Families. To reserve your place at the party, please call 882-8208 or email MeyerJay@missouri.edu.

Mizzou Founders' Day Memory/Message Center

Mizzou '39 Award Program

In the spirit of service modeled by the founding families that made possible the 1839 founding of the University of Missouri, each year the Mizzou Alumni Association Student Board recognizes 39 outstanding seniors for their academic achievement, leadership and service to the University and community. Each Mizzou '39 honoree also recognizes a faculty or staff member that has influenced them during their career at Mizzou. The students, faculty and staff honored through this program are acknowledged at the campus Founders' Celebration, at the Mizzou '39 Banquet, and during halftime of a Men's Basketball game.

Applications are available and due during the Fall semester. For more information, please call 882-6611 or email muaa@mizzou.com

Tiger Tribute
A moment to remember... a lifetime to honor. View the 2004 Tiger Tribute of alumni and friends of the university for 2004.

A Brief History

2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997

The Time of the Tiger is the Mizzou Alumni Association's annual celebration to honor the 1839 founding of the University of Missouri in Columbia

History shows that in April, 1927 more than 80 city and county alumni chapters observed Founders' Day activities. (source: Columbia Daily Tribune). The University's cornerstone was laid on July 4, 1840 and the courses of instruction were opened on April 14, 1841. The original April celebration may have been chosen to mark the opening of classes.

The Alumni Association selected February for its celebration, since the bill that established the University was signed February 11, 1839. Presented by Henry S. Geyer of St. Louis, and signed February 11, 1839. the Geyer Act specified that the University be built in one of six central Missouri counties. The county that offered the most inducements in land and money would be named home of the University. Boone County won the bid with $117,921.25 in cash plus land.

With respect for the Geyer Act, Mizzou's 150th anniversary in 1989 was kicked off in February, and marked by a year-long celebration across campus and throughout the State. In 1996 the Alumni Association took up the birthday banner once again and hosted the first Time of the Tiger Founder's Celebration, inaugurating this annual party for the University.

The first Time of the Tiger-Founders' Celebration, February 7, 1996, included a Birthday Party in the Donald W. Reynolds Alumni and Visitor Center. Alumni, faculty, staff and students were invited to meet Truman the Tiger, enjoy birthday cake and try their hands at a campus Trivia Contest, developed by local alumnus, Wayne Behymer. Special campus presentations and a local radio broadcast highlighted the event that was capped off with singing "Happy Birthday" to Mizzou.

That evening at the MU vs. Nebraska basketball game, Rusty Jandl, BSBA '77, president of the Alumni Association, presented the Chancellor with a birthday cake and a Resolution, adopted by the State Senate, in recognition of the University's 157th birthday.

A New Tradition begins…
Alumni and fans were asked to wear black and gold to work on the day selected for the campus party, thus beginning a new tradition. As a reminder and as an invitation to join the celebrationlogo stickers were sent to all Association members and given to those who attended Founders' Celebration events.

Along with the campus celebration, six alumni chapters held concurrent events. These parties focused around the Mizzou Tiger basketball game that was available by satellite. Guests received Founders' Celebration stickers and were invited to sign Rosters, marking their participation in this first annual event. Special Time of the Tiger clocks and long-sleeved T-shirts were provided as door prizes.

2004 ~ held during the week of February 6 -15, 2004
What an amazing birthday gift for Mizzou! The week of Founders’ Celebration events was highlighted by the announcement of a $31 million gift to the University of Missouri by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation which will be used to create an institute focusing on advanced studies in journalism.

The award was the largest private donation ever to the University of Missouri and is the second major MU building project financed by the Reynolds Foundation. The Donald W. Reynolds Alumni Center, dedicated in 1992, was built with a $9 million gift from the Foundation-at the time, the largest gift in the history of the University.

The university’s 165th birthday was also honored during the annual Founders’ Celebration held on Thursday, February 12 in the Reynolds Alumni Center. The Mizzou family celebrated the “Time of the Tiger” in traditional style with Alumni Association President Debbie Snellen, Chancellor Richard Wallace, Truman the Tiger, and founding family descendants Julie and Jennifer Tyler all in attendance.

One-hundred and sixty-five balloons filled the Alumni Center Great Room where alumni, staff, and friends reminisced about the past and viewed the stirring “For All We Call Mizzou” music video. After singing “Happy Birthday” to Mizzou, everyone enjoyed Tiger Stripe ice cream, cupcakes, and hot apple cider.

The office decorating contest had a tie for top honors with Debbie Oliver, PhD `00, MSW `85 of the School of Social Work and Sheila Wieman, BSEd ’72 of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Affairs each being recognized for their proud displays of Mizzou spirit. The Black and Gold Costume Contest winners included toddler Cassie Gray, who stole the show in her Tiger Cheerleader outfit, along with Sue Dunkin, BSEd ‘79 and Sue Troutner who were dressed to impress in classy Tiger attire.

The 2004 “Time of the Tiger” was celebrated across the nation with a total of 36 chapters holding concurrent events to celebrate Mizzou’s birthday.

2003 ~ held during the week of February 2 – 10, 2003
The Campus celebration was Thursday, February 6, 2003 at the Reynolds Alumni Center. More than 80 guests reminisced to the sounds of Minimal Art, a 4-piece campus combo of professors who donated their talents for the 164th birthday party for Mizzou.

Reagan Van Eaton, 2-year-old daughter of Jason and Mindy Van Eaton and Pat Lawnick took top awards in the traditional black & gold costume contest during the party. Everyone enjoyed Tiger Stripe ice cream, along with cupcakes decorated with tiger paws, in a room filled with birthday balloons.

Special guests this year were Julie Sturm, BA '83, Christie Koonse, BJ '79, Susie Koonse Fiegel, BA '71, Jenny Koonse Chicone and Candy Koonse, great, great, great granddaughters of E. Moss Prewitt, one of the founders of the University.

First place in the office decorating contest was captured by the Department of Social Work and second place went to the College of HES Office of Development. Association Vice President Doug Crews and Chancellor Richard Wallace were helped by AASB students to blow out the birthday candles, following the singing of "Happy Birthday."

Thirty-six chapters hosted concurrent celebrations. For those celebrations the Association produced a video, "Message from Mizzou", hosted by Chancellor Richard Wallace, specifically for alumni living away from campus.

2002 ~ held during the week of February 2 – 11, 2002
The Campus celebration was Thursday, February 7, 2002 at the Reynolds Alumni Center. Guests enjoyed snacks, cake and ice cream with Truman the Tiger, and Curators Sean McGinnis and Mary James.

Highlighting the campus party was a virtual reality tour of the newly planned Tiger Plaza. Tiger Plaza, scheduled for dedication next Fall during Homecoming, will be developed on the southern half of the South Quad, just east of Cornell Hall. The Plaza will include walkways and landscaping with the centerpiece being a waterfall, next to a bronze Tiger sculpture.Emcee Todd Coleman, Executive Director of the Mizzou Alumni Association, invited guests to peruse the Mizzou Tigers for Tigers display, enter the Tiger Spirit Contest, and to pause for a moment of silence, to remember those Tigers who have passed on in the last year.

Office Decorating Contest winners were announced by the Homecoming Steering Committee Co-Chairs. First place went to the Athletic Department, second place to the Office of sponsored Programs and the Police Department won 3rd place. Spirit winners, selected by a committee of AASB student leaders, were Beverly Yarger [should have seen her shoes!], Audrey Roloff, sporting a black and gold romper, compliments of big brother Berkley, and Walter Horn, in his dressy coat and Mizzou shirt.

The week long celebration included an online Memory Board where guests could leave messages and post memories of their Mizzou experiences. Twenty-nine chapters across the country hosted local celebrations.

2001 ~ Held during the week of February 3 - 11, 2001
The Campus celebration was Thursday, February 8, 2001 at the Reynolds Alumni Center. Guests enjoyed cake and ice cream with Truman the Tiger, Chancellor Richard Wallace and MUAA President Dee Esry.

The Mizzou Tigers for Tigers Program announced a landmark partnership with the Save the Tiger Fund and presented the fund with the first donation of $10,000. National leaders in tiger conservation, as well as curators from both the Kansas City and St. Louis zoos were on hand. More than 150 joined in the celebration to mark 162 years since the founding of the University.

A week-long virtual celebration was hosted online at www.mizzou.com, where alumni and friends could post messages and exchange memories. Twenty-eight chapters across the country hosted local celebrations.

2000 ~ Held during the week of February 5- 12
161 black, white and gold balloons greeted guests at the campus birthday party for Mizzou.

President Melodie Powell, AB '77, JD '81, welcomed faculty, alumni, students and staff to the anniversary party, marking 161 years since the signing of the Geyer Act, which paved the way for the University in Columbia.

In addition to enjoying the traditional cake and Tiger Stripe ice cream, guests were invited to participate in a collection of memorabilia for the Association's Century Time Capsule. President Powell donated a needlepoint pillow, created and given to her by her Pledge Mom, when she was a student. Donations included photos, pins, Ids, and books. The Capsule will be dedicated and buried in April. A plaque in the Reynolds Center invites alumni of the year 2100 to open the Capsule for a 'snapshot' of alumni from the 20th Century.

Jim Wise, Sr., BSBA '56 was chosen winner of the Spirit Costume contest, for sporting the best black and gold attire at the party. Winners in the office decorating contest were: First Place: Human Resource Services and SOS, Heinkel Building; Second Place: College of Education's Office of Research and Development, Hill Hall; Third Place: Residential Life, Jesse Hall.

An Online Chat was hosted from Noon-7:00 PM, at the Association's Web site. More than 50 guests participated, including Dean Thomas Payne, Dean Bea Smith, Interim Dean Rose Porter, and Chancellor Richard Wallace. During this week-long celebration, 20 alumni chapters hosted their own events.

1999
President Mark Miller, BSRPA '78, MS '82 , Truman the Tiger and Chancellor Richard Wallace welcomed more than 180 at Mizzou's 160th birthday February 11 in the Reynolds Center. Balloons, displays, cake and ice cream provided a festive atmosphere.

Miller shared a Proclamation from the Governor's office, representative Ken Jacob extended congratulations, and student leader Gabe DeWitte presented the winners of the Spirit Contests. Betty Cook Rottmann, BJ '58 and James Wise, Sr., BSBA '56 shared honors for their black and gold attire.

Chancellor Wallace announced the formation of an innovative program, Mizzou Tigers for Tigers. Although there are many universities with a tiger mascot, the University of Missouri-Columbia (Mizzou) is the first to actively support a comprehensive conservation program for critically endangered wild tigers, according to the World Wildlife Fund. The Mizzou Tigers for Tigers program is a pioneering effort to raise awareness and support to ensure that there will be wild tigers for as long as there are Mizzou Tigers. MU alumnus Paul Jackson created the painting Eyes of the Tiger and donated its use as a logo for the program.

Congratulations to the winners of the Office Decorating Contest! Business Office of Information & Access Technology Services won FIRST PLACE and Intercollegiate Athletics won SECOND PLACE. A three-way tie for THIRD PLACE went to Biological Sciences, Campus Dining Service and the Math Department.

In addition to the party, the 160th birthday also included a Virtual Celebration. More than 60 guests signed onto the Association's Web site and chatted with other participants throughout the 12-hour chat. Chancellor Wallace joined the online chat as well.

1998
The 1998 celebration was Wednesday, February 11, 5:00 PM -6:30PM in the Reynolds Center. Mizzou Alumni Association President Jean Snider and Truman the Tiger welcomed guests and cut the cake as the Alumni Association honored MU's 159th birthday. Student leaders selected Spirit Contest winners from among those who wore black and gold to the party. Winners were Nancy Moen, Darcy Wells and Eileen Gardner, all from the College of Arts & Science. MU video memories highlighted the reception.

During the day, the Alumni Association Student Board provided birthday cake to students in Brady Commons and in the Memorial Union.

A Tiger Tribute was printed, listing the names of alumni who passed away during the past year.

Thirty alumni chapters worldwide hosted local celebrations on Sunday, Feb. 8th to watch the Tiger basketball team take on KU in Lawrence.

1997
The1997 Celebration was held February 8, 1997. The campus party was highlighted by a new campus video, MU 1997, produced by University Affairs, and aired for the first time at the party. Interim Chancellor Richard Wallace and MUAA President, Brock Hessing shared honors in blowing out candles on the birthday cake. Attendance was 150.

Twenty-two chapters across the country held concurrent celebrations. Activity Kits were sent to each chapter that held an event and they included nametags, party decorations, a Trivia Contest and the now traditional, clock door-prize!