The late Cal Roebuck
The President’s Leadership Award, one of the most prestigious awards presented by Truman State University, honors select Truman alumni and friends for meritorious service through their gifts of volunteerism, expertise and financial resources. Earlier this year, Calvin E. Roebuck, who died in 2011, was honored posthumously with the 2013 President’s Leadership Award.
After graduating from Truman in 1957 with a bachelor of science degree in business administration, Cal began his career with Prudential. In 1961, he was employed by State Farm Insurance as an agent in Kirksville. In 1964, he was promoted to agency manager in St. Louis and seven years later was promoted to agency director in the Ohio State Farm Regional Office. Following a brief stint as an executive assistant in Bloomington, Ill., Cal was promoted to deputy regional vice president in the Missouri-Kansas Regional Office in Columbia, Mo. In 1985 he was promoted to vice president of the Ohio Region. Cal retired from State Farm Insurance in 2000, after almost 40 years of service.
In 2003 Cal was honored as Truman’s Alumnus of the Year, and he provided wisdom and guidance to the University while serving as a two-term member of the Truman State University Foundation Board of Directors. He also demonstrated support for his alma mater by serving on committees for the University’s Magruder Hall Campaign and the “Bright Minds Bright Futures” Campaign.
Along with his wife, Lydia, Cal provided generous financial support to Truman. In 2008 the Roebucks established the Calvin E. Roebuck Business Scholarship to commemorate Cal’s distinguished career at State Farm Insurance and to provide opportunity for deserving students to receive a Truman education. The Roebucks created the scholarship fund with an outright commitment of $50,000. The fund, which was fortified with matching gifts from State Farm Insurance, has grown to more than $120,000 through proceeds of a life insurance policy and memorial gifts.
Members of the Roebuck family accepted the President’s Leadership Award which was presented posthumously to Cal Roebuck (’57) at the Truman State University Foundation Banquet held on campus in April 2013. Shown L-R: Jaynee Roebuck (Cal’s daughter-in-law), Jim Roebuck (Cal’s son), Lydia Roebuck (Cal’s wife) and University President Troy Paino.
