The Missouri Military Academy (MMA) is a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...

preparatory school established on November 22, 1889, in

Mexico, Missouri , image_skyline = Audrain County Missouri Courthouse.JPG , imagesize = 250px , image_caption = The Audrain County Courthouse in downtown Mexico. , image_flag = , image_seal = ...

. The academy is a selective, all male,

boarding school A boarding school is a school where pupils live within premises while being given formal instruction. The word "boarding" is used in the sense of "room and board", i.e. lodging and meals. As they have existed for many centuries, and now exten ...

, grades 7 to 12. As a

U.S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...

Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC -- commonly pronounced "JAY-rotsee") is a federal program sponsored by the United States Armed Forces in high schools and also in some middle schools across the United States and at US military ...

(JROTC) Honor Unit With Distinction (as designated by the

U.S. Department of the Army The United States Department of the Army (DA) is one of the three military departments within the Department of Defense of the U.S. The Department of the Army is the federal government agency within which the United States Army (U.S.) is o ...

), it has the privilege of nominating

cadet A cadet is an officer trainee or candidate. The term is frequently used to refer to those training to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. Its meaning may vary between countries which can include youths in ...

s to the

U.S. Military Academy The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known metonymically as West Point or simply as Army, is a United States service academy in West Point, New York. It was originally established as a fort, since it sits on strategic high groun ...

Naval Academy A naval academy provides education for prospective naval officers. See also * Military academy A military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps. It normally pro ...

Air Force Academy An air force academy or air academy is a national institution that provides initial officer training, possibly including undergraduate level education, to air force officer cadets who are preparing to be commissioned officers in a national air forc ...

, and

Coast Guard Academy The United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) is a service academy of the United States Coast Guard in New London, Connecticut. Founded in 1876, it is the smallest of the five U.S. service academies and provides education to future Coast Gu ...

History

The Missouri Military Academy was established in 1889 under the leadership of

Missouri governor The governor of Missouri is the head of government of the U.S. state of Missouri and the commander-in-chief of the Missouri National Guard. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by t ...

Charles Hardin, who obtained from the "public-spirited citizens of Mexico, Missouri...$16,000 and a beautiful

campus A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a college campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls, student centers or dining halls, and park-like se ...

of of land." The academy's first

president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...

was

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...

Alexander Fleet, a

Confederate Confederacy or confederate may refer to: States or communities * Confederate state or confederation, a union of sovereign groups or communities * Confederate States of America, a confederation of secessionist American states that existed between 1 ...

veteran A veteran () is a person who has significant experience (and is usually adept and esteemed) and expertise in a particular occupation or field. A military veteran is a person who is no longer serving in a military. A military veteran that has ...

who was present at Appomattox Court House when

General A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...

Lee surrendered to

Grant Grant or Grants may refer to: Places *Grant County (disambiguation) Australia * Grant, Queensland, a locality in the Barcaldine Region, Queensland, Australia United Kingdom *Castle Grant United States * Grant, Alabama *Grant, Inyo County, C ...

at the conclusion of the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

. From its beginning, the academy was very popular, "placing upon its rolls representatives from every

congressional district Congressional districts, also known as electoral districts and legislative districts, electorates, or wards in other nations, are divisions of a larger administrative region that represent the population of a region in the larger congressional bod ...

and 20 states." The original academy, situated on West Boulevard in Mexico, was destroyed by fire in 1896. In 1900, the school was re-established by the Businessmen's Association of Mexico on its present site at the eastern outskirts of the city. Subsequent presidents were Colonel Alexander Yancey (1900-1902), Colonel William Fonville (1903-1911), Colonel Walter Kohr (1911-1914), and Colonel Emmette Burton (1914-1933). In 1933, an organization headed by Colonel Charles Stribling, Jr., assumed control. Colonel Stribling had been on the faculty since 1920 as teacher, coach, assistant commandant and commandant of cadets. In 1948, Colonel Stribling directed the reorganization of the academy into a nonprofit educational corporation governed by a

board of trustees A board of directors (commonly referred simply as the board) is an executive committee that jointly supervises the activities of an organization, which can be either a for-profit or a nonprofit organization such as a business, nonprofit organiz ...

alumni Alumni (singular: alumnus (masculine) or alumna (feminine)) are former students of a school, college, or university who have either attended or graduated in some fashion from the institution. The feminine plural alumnae is sometimes used for grou ...

, faculty, and

friends ''Friends'' is an American television sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994, to May 6, 2004, lasting ten seasons. With an ensemble cast starring Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa ...

.''Missouri Military Academy Alumni Directory, 2009'', pp. v-vi. The Missouri Military Academy Alumni Association and the tradition of

Homecoming Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni or other former members of an organization to celebrate the organization's existence. It is a tradition in many high schools, colleges, and churches in the United States, Canada and Liberia. ...

were rejuvenated in 1955 and operate under the

alumni association An alumni association or alumnae association is an association of graduates or, more broadly, of former students (alumni). In the United Kingdom and the United States, alumni of universities, colleges, schools (especially independent schools), ...

board of directors. In 1968, Colonel Charles Stribling III, '44, was named president. A member of the faculty for 16 years, Colonel Stribling III had served as

teacher A teacher, also called a schoolteacher or formally an educator, is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence, or virtue, via the practice of teaching. ''Informally'' the role of teacher may be taken on by anyone (e.g. whe ...

coach Coach may refer to: Guidance/instruction * Coach (sport), a director of athletes' training and activities * Coaching, the practice of guiding an individual through a process ** Acting coach, a teacher who trains performers Transportation * Co ...

commandant Commandant ( or ) is a title often given to the officer in charge of a military (or other uniformed service) training establishment or academy. This usage is common in English-speaking nations. In some countries it may be a military or police ran ...

executive officer An executive officer is a person who is principally responsible for leading all or part of an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization. In many militaries and police forces, an executive officer, o ...

, and director of alumni affairs,

development Development or developing may refer to: Arts *Development hell, when a project is stuck in development *Filmmaking, development phase, including finance and budgeting *Development (music), the process thematic material is reshaped * Photograph ...

, and

public relations Public relations (PR) is the practice of managing and disseminating information from an individual or an organization (such as a business, government agency, or a nonprofit organization) to the public in order to influence their perception. P ...

. Colonel Stribling, Jr., was elevated to the position of chairman of the board of trustees and served in that capacity until his death at age 86, in his 63rd year on the faculty. The administration building, built in 1900 and a historical focal point of the campus, was renamed Stribling Hall by the board of trustees in 1981 in honor of his contributions to the academy, the community, and the nation. Colonel Ronald Kelly was elected president of MMA in 1993, with Colonel Charles Stribling III continuing as chairman of the board of trustees. Colonel Kelly was a faculty member since 1969 and served MMA as a teacher, coach, advisor, director of admissions, and executive officer. Following the school year 2006–2007,

Major General Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

Robert Flannigan, U.S. Marine Corps,

retired Retirement is the withdrawal from one's position or occupation or from one's active working life. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours or workload. Many people choose to retire when they are elderly or incapable of doing their j ...

, replaced Colonel Kelly as president. General Flannigan came to MMA from

Admiral Farragut Academy Admiral Farragut Academy, established in 1933, is a private, college-prep school serving students in grades K-12. Farragut is located in St. Petersburg, Florida in Pinellas County and is surrounded by the communities of Treasure Island, Gulf ...

St. Petersburg Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

, where he served as business advisor and commandant. Colonel Stribling III stepped down as chairman but remained a member of the board. In 2012, Charles McGeorge was named president of MMA. McGeorge was the 10th president of

Valley Forge Military Academy and College Valley Forge Military Academy and College (VFMAC) is a private boarding school (grades 7–12) and military junior college in Wayne, Pennsylvania. It follows in the traditional military school format with army traditions. Though military in tr ...

, serving from 2004 to 2010. He came to MMA from McGeorge & Co., a

limited liability company A limited liability company (LLC for short) is the US-specific form of a private limited company. It is a business structure that can combine the pass-through taxation of a partnership or sole proprietorship with the limited liability of a ...

he founded in 2010 to provide consulting services to independent schools and colleges. In 2019, Brigadier General Richard V. Geraci, USA (Ret) succeeded Charles McGeorge as 11th president of Missouri Military Academy. Geraci joined MMA as chief academic officer on July 1, 2017. His role was then expanded on March 1, 2018, and his title changed to vice president for academics, operations and planning. Prior to his arrival, he was the president of Leavenworth Regional Catholic School System and principal of Immaculata High School.

Buildings

The campus was expanded by the completion of the Junior School Academic Building (1956), the Little Field House (1957), the Academic Building (1958), the Memorial Chapel (1961), the Administration Building annex (1963), Cadet Hospital (1964), the Field House (1967), "E" Barracks (1968), an Academic Building addition (1969), the Natatorium (1981), a Junior School Academic Building addition (1982), the Centennial Gymnatorium (1988), the new "D" Barracks (1991), the Maintenance Building (1992), an all-weather track and soccer field (1993), Brad Calvert Field (1994), the new "C" Barracks (1995), the Laundry Building (1996), the new "B" Barracks (2002), Rappelling Tower (2002), and an Academic Building addition (2009). This latest addition was the first

high school A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper seconda ...

building in Missouri to receive a

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a green building certification program used worldwide. Developed by the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), it includes a set of rating systems for the design, construction ...

certification by the

U.S. Green Building Council The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), co-founded by Mike Italiano, David Gottfried and Rick Fedrizzi in 1993, is a private 501(c)3, membership-based non-profit organization that promotes sustainability in building design, construction, and op ...

. The building, named "Barnard Hall" after Les Barnard, '48, was completed in time for the opening of school.''Missouri Military Academy Alumni Directory, 2009'', p. vii. In 2012, the reconstruction of Stribling Hall was completed and the building fitted with a new gold

dome A dome () is an architectural element similar to the hollow upper half of a sphere. There is significant overlap with the term cupola, which may also refer to a dome or a structure on top of a dome. The precise definition of a dome has been a m ...

, one of few in Missouri.

School life

In 1985, MMA was designated as an "Exemplary Private School" by the

U.S. Department of Education The United States Department of Education is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government. It began operating on May 4, 1980, having been created after the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare was split into the Department ...

. The academy is a

College Board The College Board is an American nonprofit organization that was formed in December 1899 as the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) to expand access to higher education. While the College Board is not an association of colleges, it runs a ...

test center for central Missouri. In 2003, the

academic program An academic degree is a qualification awarded to students upon successful completion of a course of study in higher education, usually at a college or university. These institutions commonly offer degrees at various levels, usually including unde ...

was expanded to include dual-credit courses, allowing cadets to accumulate

college credit A credit is the recognition for having taken a course at school or university, used as measure if enough hours have been made for graduation. University credits United States Credit hours In a college or university in the United States, student ...

hours while fulfilling high school requirements. School year 2007-2008 saw the incorporation of the academy's first

National Honor Society The National Honor Society (NHS) is a nationwide organization for high school students in the United States and outlying territories, which consists of many chapters in high schools. Selection is based on four criteria: scholarship (academic achi ...

chapter. In 2008,

Advanced Placement Advanced Placement (AP) is a program in the United States and Canada created by the College Board which offers college-level curricula and examinations to high school students. American colleges and universities may grant placement and course ...

course offerings increased to nine. MMA offers 11 varsity

sport Sport pertains to any form of Competition, competitive physical activity or game that aims to use, maintain, or improve physical ability and Skill, skills while providing enjoyment to participants and, in some cases, entertainment to specta ...

s and regularly wins state military school championships. In addition, there are athletic opportunities for all cadets in the Raider Program,

physical education Physical education, often abbreviated to Phys Ed. or P.E., is a subject taught in schools around the world. It is usually taught during primary and secondary education, and encourages psychomotor learning by using a play and movement explorati ...

horseback riding Equestrianism (from Latin , , , 'horseman', 'horse'), commonly known as horse riding (Commonwealth English) or horseback riding (American English), includes the disciplines of riding, driving, and vaulting. This broad description includes the ...

, and

intramural sports Intramural sports are recreational sports organized within a particular institution, usually an educational institution, or a set geographic region. The term, which is chiefly North American, derives from the Latin words ''intra muros'' meaning " ...

. The state championship

drill team A drill team can be one of four different entities: # A military drill team is a marching unit that performs routines based on military foot or exhibition drills. Military drill teams perform either armed or unarmed. # A dance drill team creat ...

, the Fusileers, the

marching band A marching band is a group of instrumental musicians who perform while marching, often for entertainment or competition. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. Most marching bands wear a uniform, ofte ...

, and

color guard In Military, military organizations, a colour guard (or color guard) is a detachment of soldiers assigned to the protection of Colours, standards and guidons, regimental colours and the national flag. This duty is so prestigious that the militar ...

continue to bring renown to the school. The units have been selected to represent the State of Missouri in presidential inaugural

parades A parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, floats, or sometimes large balloons. Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually celebrations of ...

, and they have performed at televised college and professional sporting events. The Fusileers also represent MMA at the National High School Drill Team Championships where they have been nationally ranked.

Notable alumni

Maxie Anderson Maxie Anderson (September 10, 1934 – June 27, 1983) was an American hot air balloonist and Congressional Gold Medal recipient He was part of the balloon crews that made the first Atlantic ocean crossing by balloon in the Double Eagle II a ...

(1934–1983), U.S. Congressional Gold Medal recipient *

Randall Carver Randall Carver (born May 25 in Fort Worth, Texas) is an American actor. Carver started his acting career in the late 1960s, and had roles in films and television. He portrayed John Burns throughout the first season (1978–79) of ''Taxi (TV seri ...

(born 1946), American film and television

actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), li ...

''Missouri Military Academy Alumni Directory, 2009'', p. 13. * Clifton Cates (1893–1970), 19th

Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps The commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) is normally the highest-ranking officer in the United States Marine Corps and is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Joint Chiefs of Staff: composition; functions. The CMC reports directly to the secr ...

''Missouri Military Academy Alumni Directory, 2009'', p. 73. *

Dale Dye Dale Adam Dye Jr. (born October 8, 1944) is an American actor, technical advisor, radio personality and writer. A decorated Marine veteran of the Vietnam War, Dye is the founder and head of Warriors, Inc., a technical advisory company specializ ...

(born 1944), American film and television actor,

advisor An adviser or advisor is normally a person with more and deeper knowledge in a specific area and usually also includes persons with cross-functional and multidisciplinary expertise. An adviser's role is that of a mentor or guide and differs categor ...

writer A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles and techniques to communicate ideas. Writers produce different forms of literary art and creative writing such as novels, short stories, books, poetry, travelogues, p ...

''Missouri Military Academy Alumni Directory, 2009'', p. 20. * Howard Hughes, Sr. (1869–1924), founder of

Hughes Tool Company Hughes Tool Company was an American manufacturer of drill bits. Founded in 1908, it was merged into Baker Hughes Incorporated in 1987. History The company was established in December 1908 as Sharp-Hughes Tool Company when Howard R. Hughes S ...

''Missouri Military Academy Alumni Directory, 2009'', p. 82. * Albert C. Hunt (1888-1956), Associate Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court. *

Jess Larson Jess Larson (June 22, 1904 – February 25, 1987) was an American lawyer who served as the first Administrator of General Services, the administrator of the War Assets Administration, and as chairman and president of the Air Force Association ...

(1904–1987), 1st Administrator of the U.S. General Services *

Ed Lindenmeyer Edgar William Lindenmeyer (July 18, 1901 – July 24, 1981) was an American football player. Lindenmeyer attended the Missouri Military Academy (MMA) before enrolling at the University of Missouri. He played college football at the tackle pos ...

(1901–1981), College All-America Team football tackle * Judd Lyons (born 1962), Senior

officer An officer is a person who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization. The term derives from Old French ''oficier'' "officer, official" (early 14c., Modern French ''officier''), from Medieval Latin ''officiarius'' "an officer," fro ...

of the

Army National Guard The Army National Guard (ARNG), in conjunction with the Air National Guard, is an organized Militia (United States), militia force and a Reserve components of the United States Armed Forces, federal military reserve force of the United States A ...

''Missouri Military Academy Alumni Directory, 2009'', p. 41. * "Reb" Russell (1905–1978),

American football American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team with ...

running back A running back (RB) is a member of the offensive backfield in gridiron football. The primary roles of a running back are to receive American football plays#Offensive terminology, handoffs from the quarterback to Rush (American football)#Offen ...

and film actor *

Guy Troy Guy Kent Troy (March 15, 1923 – March 17, 2023) was an American modern pentathlete. He competed at the 1952 Summer Olympics. Early life and education Troy was nominated to the United States Military Academy by Florida Senator Charles O. Andre ...

(born 1923), American

modern pentathlete The modern pentathlon is an Olympic sport consisting of fencing (one-touch épée), freestyle swimming, equestrian show jumping, pistol shooting, and cross country running. The event is inspired by the traditional pentathlon held during the anc ...

and summer olympian

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Missouri Military Academy 501(c)(3) organizations 1889 establishments in Missouri Boarding schools in Missouri Boys' schools in Missouri Buildings and structures in Audrain County, Missouri Educational institutions established in 1889 Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps Mexico, Missouri Military high schools in the United States Preparatory schools in Missouri Private schools in Missouri Schools in Audrain County, Missouri

History

Buildings

School life

Notable alumni

See also

References

Further reading

External links