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Lou Wehmer receives honorary degree at MSU-WP commencement

Historian, entrepreneur, and former Missouri State Highway Patrol Chief Telecommunications Engineer Robert Louis "Lou" Wehmer received an honorary Associate of Arts in General Studies degree Saturday, May 20, from Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP).
The honorary degree was presented during the university's annual commencement ceremony by MSU-WP Chancellor Dennis Lancaster at the West Plains Civic Center.
This is the 12th year an honorary degree has been bestowed by the university. It is designed to recognize extraordinary individuals who have given a substantial part of their lives to serving others and/or who have distinguished themselves, university officials said.
It also is designed to establish a public association between MSU-WP and such exceptional men and women, thereby providing testimony to the values and quality of two-year institutions, officials added.
"For years I have watched Lou Wehmer do things that are likely impossible for even the best of the rest of us," Lancaster said. "He's a publisher, journalist, writer, historian, storyteller, engineer, law enforcement official, philanthropist – I mean the list goes on and on. Lou is a true scholar, in my mind, and it's a privilege to be able to honor him with our honorary degree from Missouri State University-West Plains."
Wehmer started his career in radio and telecommunications in the south-central Missouri when he was 15 years old. It led to a 33-year distinguished career with Troop G of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, from which he retired as chief telecommunications engineer.
He attended Missouri State University-West Plains in 1971 when it was known as the Residence Center of Southwest Missouri State College and housed at West Plains High School. In 1974, he was hired by the Missouri State Highway Patrol where he helped select the patrol's first computer-aided dispatch system and plan what became a new statewide radio network. He also helped design the first computerized logging and auto-location systems, allowing real-time tracking of patrol cars in the field.
While working for the patrol, Wehmer started a part-time business to do contract broadcast engineering for eight radio stations across southern Missouri. As satellite technology took off, he built his first satellite dish from wood and window screen. He also built the first internet service provider (ISP) in northern Howell County and Shannon County when internet arrived in the area, an accomplishment that our students and campus benefit from today.
In 2003, Wehmer partnered with a colleague in Rolla to republish William Monks' "History of Southern Missouri and Northern Arkansas" via the University of Arkansas Press. He and his colleague have another local history book coming out this year. He also has written a history column every week for the Howell County News since 2011.
His historical knowledge of our region of the Ozarks is unparalleled. He has devoted much of his life to chronicling the history of south-central Missouri and north-central Arkansas. Professional historians value his work, including his recent publication in the peer-reviewed Missouri Historical Review.
Officials with the Ozarks Heritage Resource Center here at Missouri State-West Plains rely heavily on his encyclopedic knowledge of archival material related to West Plains, Howell County and the broader Ozarks region, and he has assisted them in procuring and preserving important local historical material.
Wehmer's love for this region shows through in his community involvement. He has served as:
- president of the Willow Springs Development Corporation for 20 years
- a board member of the Willow Springs Community Foundation (an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks) for 20 years
- president of the South Central Missouri Genealogical and Historical Society
- and board member/curator of the Harlin Museum in West Plains
He also is a former member and president of the Howell County 911 Advisory Committee. During his tenure, he helped lead the initiative that provided a tax-supported district, taking 911 from a cash deficit to a surplus.
By awarding Wehmer an honorary degree, university officials said they are recognizing his life's work, including community involvement, his devotion to historical knowledge and understanding, helping others and simply being a consummate professional in everything he does.
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