Live in: Springfield

Education: Virginia received a bachelor’s degree in education in 1954 from Missouri State and a master’s in education from Drury University in 1974. Bill, who went to Korea with the U.S. Army in the early 1950s, earned a bachelor’s in agriculture from Missouri State in 1957.

Professional background: Virginia was a teacher in California and Arkansas, then spent many years teaching in Springfield public schools. Bill is the founder of American Dehydrated Foods Inc., International Dehydrated Foods Inc. and Food Ingredients Technology Company LLC, businesses that make ingredients for the food and pet-food industries. Now his sons-in-law run the companies.

Service to Missouri State: Bill has served on the Board of Governors and is a past president of the Missouri State University Foundation. He was the co-chair of the University’s first comprehensive fundraising effort, “The Campaign for SMS: Imagine the Possibilities,” which concluded in 2005 by exceeding its goal of $50 million.

Past recognition from Missouri State: In 1995, Bill received the Outstanding Alumni Award. In 2003, the Darrs received the Bronze Bear Award in recognition of their outstanding support.

Community involvement: The Darrs have been noted for their support of many organizations, including Boys and Girls Town, the Good Samaritan Boys Ranch, the American Red Cross, Ozarks Food Harvest and The Kitchen.

Gifts to Missouri State: There are too many to list: The Darrs have a long history of supporting the Springfield, Mountain Grove and West Plains campuses. They have helped MSU build and renovate facilities. They have contributed to academic departments. They have supported everything from athletics to the arts, from libraries to campus landmarks. The Darrs are especially known for their support of agriculture and small-town students (they established scholarships for students from their rural hometown). In 2000, Missouri State renamed the agriculture research facility on Kansas Expressway the William H. Darr Agricultural Center after a significant gift from the family. In 2009, the University named an entire academic unit in recognition of the couple’s contributions — the William H. Darr School of Agriculture.

The Darrs’ private support has helped Missouri State in enormous ways. Bill and Virginia both grew up in the small town of Ellington, Mo. — in fact, Virginia’s father, a doctor, delivered Bill. They dated in high school and both attended Missouri State, but each married someone else. Years later, after Virginia had been a divorced parent and Bill’s first wife died of leukemia, they reconnected. “He called me for dinner, and that was it,” Virginia said — they just knew they were going to be together. They married in 1988. Between them the couple has four children and six grandchildren. Many of their family members — including parents, children, siblings, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews — have attended Missouri State. “The Darrs are just wonderful people,” said Julie Ebersold, executive director of alumni relations. “They care so much about the University — they even get to know many of their scholarship recipients.” Virginia says they simply want to give back: “We’re just a couple of country kids who got an education and benefited from it.”

How does it feel to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award?

Virginia: You know what my first thought was? You have to be really old to get this. (Both of them crack up laughing.) No, we’re very honored.

Bill: It is wonderful and I see it as something very special.

What are some of your favorite memories from your time on campus?

V: I was in a sorority (Pi Kappa Sigma, which is now Sigma Kappa) and I made lifelong friends. Homecoming was always hectic because we were making a float. I also remember there was a Christmas dance with a candlelight service afterwards. My mother moved to Springfield in 1949 and I entered college as a freshman the next year. My family lived in a big house on Normal Street. It was later torn down and is a parking area now.

B: When I graduated there were fewer than 3,000 students in the whole school and it was easy to get to know many of them. I mostly remember the friendships I established, which I still have today.

How did Missouri State help you succeed?

B: In my junior year, my advisor Dr. (Glenn) Karls told me a food-processing company in town needed someone to work in the quality-control department. I got that job with Henningsen Foods. They offered me a job in Nebraska when I graduated. I stayed with the company in various roles until 1974 when I got itchy feet. I started a company in Jackson, Miss., with a couple of partners and was there for four years as president. However, I had always had the desire to come back to Springfield. I sold my interest in the company and started ADF in 1978. Dr. Karls really helped me start my entire career path.

How do you stay connected to campus?

V: We go to a lot of events. We go to football and basketball games and we’re supporters of the Pride Band.

What do you do in your leisure time?

V: We spend some time in Florida during the winter. While we’re there we go shopping and eat – we know every good restaurant!

B: We go to Branson occasionally to see some of the shows. We especially like the Presleys, Shoji Tabuchi and Andy Williams.

What is the one message you would like to give to the Missouri State community?

B: When you have the opportunity, please give back. You should read some of the letters we get from our scholarship recipients.

V: These are top students in small schools but their parents might need help in sending them to school. I always think about what their lives would be like if they couldn’t get the education to go out and do what they are capable of doing. We have always had confidence in the administration and the faculty at Missouri State. It wasn’t hard to decide to give.

— Interview by Michelle S. Rose, publications writer/editor