DR. VENCIL BIXLER: STILL AT IT AFTER ALL THESE YEARS
Dr. Vencil Bixler came to Missouri State University—then Southwest Missouri State College—in 1963 when he joined the Business Department as its ninth faculty member. When he began teaching at Missouri State, Dr. Bixler says the emphasis was on classroom teaching with each professor typically assigned a teaching load of 15 to 17 hours per semester with several different preparations. According to Bixler, his first department head was of the opinion that professors performed better with several different classes to prepare for rather than repeating one or two courses over and over again. His favorite classes to teach were accounting, investments, personal finance, and introduction to business. Dr. Bixler commented, “I was never content in merely delivering subject information and call that teaching.”
Dr. Bixler became the first FGB Department head in 1970; which he found to be an eye-opening experience with much he did not know. The FGB department produced more credit hours than any other department in the university with the exception of English with which it was about equal he says. At one time, there were approximately 20 full-time and 20 part-time faculty members in the department. Dr. Bixler was a believer in leadership by consensus and he brought the faculty members together for meetings, “as often as necessary, but as few times as necessary.” He incentivized attendance by bringing refreshments to the department faculty meetings, the favorite being hot biscuits and raspberry jam.
Bixler stepped down as department head and returned to full-time teaching in 1986. Prior to that, however, Bixler had inaugurated the “New York Corporate/Financial Study.” The program continues to this day as the “Financial Markets Study Tour” under the guidance of Dr. Kent Ragan. It consists of three parts: (1) background research and discussion of selected companies and institutions of one of the major financial centers and the economic, political, international, historical, social, ethical, and cultural environment in which they function; (2) a visit of seven to ten days duration to visit selected companies, financial markets, and cultural icons; and (3) a final, written project in group discussion of the experience.
Dr. Bixler retired from full-time teaching in 1995. His retirement, however, did not mark the end of his service to the University and its students. He continues to assist the Missouri State University Foundation by way of periodic book sales conducted in Glass Hall and Plaster Student Union. The money raised is used to fund scholarships. He says he continues, at age 80, working on the books sales for three reasons: “First to assist students in getting books for their library, areas of interest, and course supplements at a nominal cost, most about $3.50; for the enjoyment of visiting with the students; and for the satisfaction that comes from knowing that in the years to come, long after I’m gone, students will still benefit from the scholarships.”
Dr. Bixler was born on a farm near Versailles, Missouri where he lived with his parents and one brother and attended a one-room school through the eighth grade. He came to Springfield in 1949 after graduating from Eldon High School and completed a business program at Draughon’s Business College. After serving four years of active duty in the Navy, he returned and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education at Southwest Missouri State University. He then earned a Master’s Degree in Secondary School Administration and Supervision through a cooperative program of Southwest Missouri State College and the University of Missouri. He taught three years at Parkview High School in Springfield before beginning a doctoral program at the University of Missouri in Columbia. He earned a PhD in accounting and finance in 1970. In 1986-1987, he received a postdoctoral fellowship to the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Bixler and his wife Frances have two children, a son David and daughter Dana. They have four granddaughters ranging in age from 11 months to 25 years. His hobbies revolve around working in the dirt—landscaping and gardening—and serving where he can uplift other people. That service has included adult leader of the Boy Scouts and the Air Explore Scouts, various boards and community service committees and as a Sunday school teacher, Deacon and church treasurer. He says he is currently active in church and Bible studies and is an usher and greeter. He also provides leadership and service in the men’s annual retreat. His favorite books are biographies, autobiographies and the Bible. He says, “Many areas attract my interest and I am only limited by hours in the day. Every day goes by too fast, every week is too short, and every year flies by.”
Bixler says, “In addition my family, my spiritual journey, and serving students and others, my 30 years with the United States Navy has been a highlight in my life. It provided opportunity for broadening my horizons, developing leadership and character, along with national and international travel for my family and me. I worked my way through the enlisted ranks and finished as a Commissioned Officer.”
Dr. Bixler says that he believed in “stretching” the student and helping them develop what Einstein called “a holy curiosity.” He says that his most rewarding comment from his student evaluations was, “He cared about me as a person and wanted me to learn.”