MWSU Receives Fletcher Gift

The Missouri Western State University Foundation recently received a distribution from the estate of Rod '48 and Anne Fletcher, longtime supporters of the University and members of the Clock Tower Society.

The Fletchers established two scholarships in 2004 — the Rod & Anne Fletcher Single Parent Scholarship and the Rod Fletcher Fund for Communication Studies. The recent gift will be added to the single-parent scholarship.

"We truly appreciate the Fletchers making Missouri Western a beneficiary of their estate," says Kim Weddle '00, director of development. "They were able to see the immediate impact of the scholarships, but also left money in their estate to make sure the impact was perpetual."

Rod, a native of St. Joseph, Missouri, started an agricultural advertising company in 1957 when he and his wife, Anne, from Lincoln, Nebraska, moved to St. Joseph after earning their bachelor's degrees from the University of Nebraska. In 1965, the company became Fletcher Mayo and eventually had offices in several cities. Rod retired in 1984 as its president and chairman of the board.

Anne taught at Everett, Mark Twain and Pershing elementary schools in St. Joseph.

Both Rod and Anne were very involved in St. Joseph organizations, and Anne served on the Foundation board of directors. The couple had two sons.

"When Missouri Western became a four-year institution, it was exciting for the entire city," Anne said in an interview in the 1990s. "Everybody wanted the college to succeed and we all worked together to make it happen. We are proud to say we have been associated with the college."

Rod passed away in September 2012 and Anne passed away in June 2018.

If you want to leave a lasting impact at Missouri Western State University, like Rod and Anne, contact Kim Weddle at 816-271-5648 or weddle@missouriwestern.edu.