W. Jack Magruder

Jack Magruder began his career at Truman State University in 1964 as an assistant professor of chemistry. During his 22 years on the faculty, he achieved the rank of professor before serving as head of the Division of Science from 1986 to 1989. In 1989, Magruder was named acting dean of instruction and was later given the permanent appointment of vice president for academic affairs. On July 1, 1994, Magruder was named the 13th president of Truman State University. Magruder was honored in 1999 by having Truman’s Science Hall building renamed Magruder Hall, and he was granted the emeritus title of President Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of Chemistry in May 2003, before retiring from the University on June 30, 2003.

Magruder served as a member of the Board of Trustees for A. T Still University, as well as chair of the Board of Trustees Education/Research Committee, prior to being named president of A. T. Still University in February 2008. Magruder was granted the emeritus title of President Emeritus upon his retirement from that position in June 2012.

Magruder was born on August 7, 1935, in rural Lentner, Missouri, located in Shelby County. He and his family moved to Kirksville in 1943. Magruder attended Northeast Missouri State Teachers College (now Truman State University), graduating with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and mathematics. While earning his degree he also taught a Math class at Hurdland School in Hurdland, MO, as well as Chemistry and Physics at Kirksville High School. He received a master’s degree in chemistry and science education from the University of Northern Iowa, and his doctorate in chemistry and science education from the University of Northern Colorado. He completed additional graduate work at Louisiana State University. Magruder was a 1992 graduate of Harvard University’s Institute of Educational Management. He was honored in 1999 by the University of Northern Colorado as the recipient of the Administration Achievement Award, and he was granted an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2002. Magruder was honored in 2003 with the Hall of Fame Award from the Kirksville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Magruder was appointed in 2009 to the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MOHELA), representing the private sector, and was elected Vice Chair in December 2009. Magruder served as a member of the Community Advisory Committee to the Missouri Foundation for Health. He was a member of the Missouri State Fair Commission and of the Missouri State Fair Foundation Board and chair of the Blue Ribbon Panel for Accountability, Credibility and Efficiency for the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission. During his time at Truman, he served as a member of the Board of Trustees for The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, chair of the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education Committee on Transfer and Articulation, president of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC), president of the Council on Public Higher Education for Missouri, and president of the Board of Directors of the Truman State University Foundation.

In November 2009, Magruder was inducted by the Governor of Missouri, Jay W. Nixon, into the Missouri Academy of Squires, an honorary association that recognizes citizens of Missouri who have contributed exceptional service to their communities and to the state. Magruder was also an honorary member of Phi Beta Kappa and the Harry S. Truman Library Institute. He was an ex-officio member of the Highway 63 Transportation Corporation, and he held memberships in the American Chemical Society, Beta Gamma Sigma, Phi Delta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Sigma Delta Honor Society, and Science Teachers of Missouri. Magruder served on the Missouri Rural Biotech Commission from 2003-2005. He served on the Board of Directors of the Missouri United Methodist Foundation, and he was a member of the Kirksville First United Methodist Church, the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association, and the Missouri Farm Bureau. In July 2010, Dr. Magruder was honored with the American Osteopathic Association’s President’s Citation for exemplary service to the profession and most recently, in April 2011, Dr. Magruder was listed as one of Ingram’s (Missouri’s Business Magazine) “50 Missourians You Should Know.”

Magruder married Sue Brimer Magruder. Mrs. Magruder graduated from Truman State University (both BS and MA), and met Dr. Magruder on the University campus on June 4, 1954. Mrs. Magruder was granted the emeritus title of First Lady Emerita from Truman State University in May 2003. The Magruders had three children—Julie Magruder Lochbaum, Kerry Magruder, and Laura Magruder Mann—all of whom are Truman graduates. They also had seven grandchildren.

Dr. Magruder’s hobbies included reading, raising and riding Missouri Fox Trotter horses, driving a team of Haflingers, traveling and camping. Mrs. Magruder enjoyed traveling, reading, fishing and doing jigsaw puzzles. The Magruders lived on their 57-acre family farm located east of Kirksville.