This is A-State Connections on KASU. I’m Johnathan Reaves. Recently, the Arkansas State University Alumni Association announced selections for the annual Distinguished Alumni Awards. They are Charles Kruse of Dexter, Missouri, Anderson Neal of Texarkana, and Paden Neeley of Lewisville, Texas. We will play comments from each of the recipients that were recorded at a ceremony held last month. Today, we honor Charles Kruse.
Kruse, a fourth-generation family farmer, is retired from an 18-year tenure as president of the Missouri Farm Bureau. He also served as a member of the American Farm Bureau Board of Directors and one of four persons on the American Farm Bureau's executive committee.
A Stoddard County native, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in agronomy in the College of Agriculture in 1967, and later completed a master's at the University of Missouri.
He received gubernatorial appointments to the University Missouri Board of Curators and as director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture. He was appointed by President George H.W. Bush to the 19‑member President's Council on Rural America, and President George W. Bush appointed him to the President's Trade Advisory Council. He also enlisted in the Missouri Army National Guard, from which he retired as brigadier general with 26 years of service.
Active in numerous civic and business interests, Kruse serves on the A-State College of Agriculture's advisory council, a member of Central Bank Holding Company's board, which operates 13 banks with a presence in seven states, and a member of the Southeast Health board and executive committee that oversees more than 50 care locations.
He and his wife Pam are parents of two adult sons, Scott and Ben (deceased).
Here are the comments from Charles Kruse during a recent awards ceremony. Click on the Listen button for the comments.