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MSU honors Goddard, donors

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The Missouri State University Board of Governors approved plans to award honors to the former Springfield-Greene County Health Department director and a family of donors.

Government Excellence Award
Clay Goddard is slated to be honored at a fall 2021 commencement ceremony for his work during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a news release.

Goddard, who exited the local Health Department earlier this year for the Missouri Foundation for Health, is receiving MSU's 2021 Government Excellence Award, according to a news release.

“Public health leaders throughout the state of Missouri looked to Springfield as a model for proactively responding to the COVID-19 pandemic,” MSU President Clif Smart said in the release of Goddard's time in the pandemic as the Health Department director. “Clay is an exemplary leader, transparent communicator and friend. He was a reassuring voice during a time when many of us felt unmoored since our reality was upended so completely.”

An MSU alumnus, Goddard led the local Health Department amid stay-at-home and face mask orders, along with increasing cases and deaths.

Bronze Bear
The university's annual Bronze Bear Award is going to Tim Reynolds and Judith Enyeart Reynolds, according to a separate news release.

The Reynoldses are known for contributing the largest scholarship gift in school history, as well as supporting the arts park now under construction near MSU's Craig Hall. MSU’s College of Arts and Letters was renamed as the Judith Enyeart Reynolds College of Arts and Letters in recognition of a donation last year from the C.W. Titus Foundation. Tim is a trustee of the C.W. Titus Foundation, and Judy worked for the MSU English Department from 1966-94.

“We’re very lucky that we have the ability to do this and give something back,” Tim Reynolds said in the release. “For a lot of years, Missouri State gave us a lot. Judy is my life. I just want to do something so she won’t be forgotten.”

Bronze Bear recipients receive a 45-pound version of the 14-foot statue located in front of MSU's Plaster Student Union.

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