Healthcare is one of the fastest growing industries in the United States. And it is one of the industries in Missouri with the biggest gap between demand and qualified workers.

A significant gift from the McQueary family will help close this gap.

Missouri State University announced that the College of Health and Human Services is being renamed in honor of the McQueary Family.

“This transformational gift will allow the McQueary College of Health and Human Services to grow to better meet demand for skilled healthcare employees in southwest Missouri,” said Dean Helen Reid.

The McQueary family gift will fund:

• Addition of a large lecture room/classroom to the McQueary Family Health Sciences Hall
• Additional student scholarships for the college
• Support for faculty within the college

Over the years, the McQueary family has made multiple gifts to different areas of the university, including scholarships, athletics, Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts, Greenwood Laboratory School, the Child Development Center, Tent Theatre and the Pride Band. They have also made previous gifts to the colleges of Arts and Letters, Business, and Health and Human Services.

“Members of the McQueary family have been friends of Missouri State University for many years,” said President Clif Smart. “Many members of the family have also been members and leaders of university boards and committees.

“This family has touched many, many lives. We’re grateful for their long-term support of Missouri State.”

About the McQueary family

William M. McQueary started a family business in the early 1900s when he opened a drugstore on the corner of Madison and John Q. Hammons Parkway. William McQueary’s sons, William Les and Frederick Gordon McQueary, then founded McQueary Brothers Drug Company in 1924.

The McQueary family’s legacy of giving was inspired by Les and Jennie McQueary, who enjoyed Missouri State athletics. The couple’s children, Fred M. McQueary and the late William T. “Bill” McQueary, served as the first co-chairs of the Bears Fund in 1982.

Fred and Ramona McQueary and Bill and Shirley McQueary, and their families, have continued the long tradition of support of Missouri State University.

Mark McQueary is a current member of the Missouri State University Foundation Board of Trustees.

In 2007, the McQuearys were recognized for their multigenerational involvement with MSU when they were awarded the Bronze Bear award.

About the McQueary College of Health and Human Services

The McQueary College of Health and Human Services offers 17 undergraduate and 21 graduate and certificate programs. The academic units in the college include:

• Biomedical sciences
• Communication sciences and disorders
• Kinesiology
• Nursing
• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy
• Physician assistant studies
• Psychology
• Public health
• Social work
• Sports medicine and athletic training

The college also houses the Learning Diagnostic Clinic; the Speech-Language, Hearing Clinic; the Physical Therapy Clinic; MSU Care; and the Center for Research and Service.