In a lifetime spent dedicated to education, Willis J. “Jack” Magruder wore many hats.
He was a student, faculty member, administrator, president, devoted alumnus and to some – thanks to an affiliation that lasted more than 70 years – the unofficial embodiment of Truman State University. Magruder passed away Nov. 17, 2024.
Born Aug. 7, 1935 in rural Lentner, Missouri, Magruder and his family moved to Kirksville in 1943. He graduated from the University with bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and mathematics in 1957.
An education was not the only thing Magruder picked up during his time as an undergraduate. He often recounted how he met Sue Brimer on campus in 1954 while standing in line to register for classes. They married 10 weeks later, forming a special union that lasted nearly 67 years until her passing in 2021.
While he was completing his degrees, Magruder taught a math class at Hurdland School, as well as chemistry and physics at Kirksville High School. A born academic, he would go on to earn a master’s degree in chemistry and science education from the University of Northern Iowa, followed by his doctorate in chemistry and science education from the University of Northern Colorado. Magruder completed additional graduate work at Louisiana State University, and he was a graduate of Harvard University’s Institute of Educational Management.
In 1964, Magruder returned home to begin what would be one of the most honored service careers the University would ever know. He started as an assistant professor of chemistry, spending 22 years on the faculty before becoming head of the Division of Science in 1986. As gifted as he was in the classroom, Magruder was equally suited to administration. By 1989, he was named acting dean of instruction and was later appointed vice president for academic affairs.
Many only knew him as President Jack Magruder, a title he first assumed in 1994 when he became the 13th person to lead the University. With the name change to Truman State University in 1996, his guidance was integral in finishing the more than decade-long transformation into Missouri’s only statewide public liberal arts and sciences institution. Truman’s run of No. 1 rankings began on his watch and continues uninterrupted to this day. In celebration of a career that already included 35 years of service, Science Hall was renamed Magruder Hall in his honor in 1999. He would formally serve Truman for another four years before retiring as President Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of Chemistry in 2003. While his stewardship of Truman may have ended, his time as an educational giant in the community was far from complete.
Some may say there are no second acts in life, but that certainly was not the case for Magruder. A true public servant, he accepted the role of president at A.T. Still University in February 2008. Magruder’s leadership was indispensable in establishing the Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health in Kirksville. He retired from ATSU in 2012 with the title President Emeritus.
Magruder’s leadership knew no bounds, and his tutelage was sought by many organizations. He served in countless capacities on state boards and commissions. A son of the Show-Me State through and through, in November 2009, he was inducted into the Academy of Squires, an honorary association that recognizes citizens of Missouri who have contributed exceptional service to their communities and to the state.
On his journey to becoming one of the most influential figures in Missouri, Magruder never strayed from his humble roots. A fixture on campus, in the community and around the state, he greeted everyone with a smile and a handshake. His presence alone made campus feel like home to many, to say nothing of his hard work, dedication and passion for education. Truman, ATSU and Kirksville are all better places thanks to Jack Magruder, and they will never quite be the same without him.
