Bob Barker gives $100K to Drury

Former "Price is Right" host and Drury University graduate Bob Barker yesterday donated $100,000 to his alma mater during a visit to the Springfield school.

The television personality also donated awards earned during his broadcasting career, including his Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame award, one of his 19 Emmy Awards and a plaque commemorating his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, according to a news release.

At the ceremony, Barker presented the surprise donation to Drury President Todd Parnell, dictating the money be used to establish a scholarship fund for students pursuing a minor in animal studies.

“As I’ve said before, when Bob Barker comes to campus good things happen,” Parnell said in the release. “This scholarship donation was a total surprise, and I can’t thank Bob enough for the support he’s given Drury during the years.”

During the last five years, Barker has donated $2 million to the university to establish the Bob Barker Endowment Fund for the Study of Animal Rights and the Dorothy Jo Barker Endowed Professorship of Animal Rights, in honor of his late wife.

Drury renamed an on-campus street Bob Barker Boulevard in 2008, a year after he was awarded a honorary doctorate.

Barker earned a degree in economics from Drury in 1947. He went on to work at Springfield radio station KTTS, and was the host of TV game show "The Price is Right" from 1972 until his 2007 retirement, the release said.[[In-content Ad]]