President Choi's Blog

Honoring our military community 

Nov. 14, 2023


A photo from the Whiteman Day tailgate at the Hearnes Center.
Speakers at the event included Col. Keith Butler, Commander of the 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman Air Force Base (left), Fran and Joe Scallorns and Maj. Gen. Jason Armagost, Commander of the 8th Air Force headquartered at the Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana.

Before Saturday’s win against the University of Tennessee, we joined with Whiteman Air Force Base to commemorate both Veterans Day and the annual Whiteman Day tailgate at Mizzou. This is the 25th year that Joe and Fran Scallorns have sponsored this event to honor the brave men and women who serve our country. The event was held at the Hearnes Center and attended by more than 500 service members, veterans and families of the Whiteman Air Force Base.

A photo of (from left to right) President Choi, Assistant Vice President of Government Relations Dustin Schnieders, state Rep. Bennie Cook, state Rep. Michael Johnson, state Rep. Dave Griffith, state Rep. Doug Richey, Veterans Clinic Director Brent Filbert, Curator Michael Williams, School of Law Dean Paul Litton, Bob Langdon (J.D. '72), Athletic Director Desiree Reed-Francois, state Rep. Jamie Burger, state Rep. Dean Van Schoiack, state Sen. Rusty Black and Curator Robert Fry.
(From left to right) President Choi, Assistant Vice President of Government Relations Dustin Schnieders, state Rep. Bennie Cook, state Rep. Michael Johnson, state Rep. Dave Griffith, state Rep. Doug Richey, Veterans Clinic Director Brent Filbert, UM Board of Curators Chair Michael Williams, School of Law Dean Paul Litton, Bob Langdon (J.D. ’72), Athletic Director Desiree Reed-Francois, state Rep. Jamie Burger, state Rep. Dean Van Schoiack, state Sen. Rusty Black and Curator Robert Fry.

During the game, we also celebrated Mizzou Football’s Military Appreciation Day, which was one of many 2023 Veterans Week highlights. I was on-field with members of the University of Missouri Board of Curators, elected officials and other Mizzou leaders to recognize veterans as well as the important work of our MU School of Law Veterans Clinic. The clinic’s students, faculty and staff have helped more than 1,600 veterans secure VA benefits and correct service characterizations over the last ten years. Bob Langdon, a ’73 MU alumnus, presented the clinic with more than $100,000 in contributions by School of Law alumni from the 1970s.

A photo of a Northrup Grumman B-2 Spirit flying over Faurot Field and assembled representatives of the U.S. Armed Forces during Military Appreciation Day.

Thanks to important initiatives like the Veterans Clinic and the Student Veterans Resource and Support Center, Mizzou is often recognized as a great university for veterans and military-affiliated students. We are proud to give back to those who served, and grateful for their dedication to our country.

— Mun