President awards local public figure Friend of the University Award

Harry and Frances Rediger have been involved with different fundraising opportunities and membership boards in Cape Girardeau for many years. Harry Rediger was elected mayor in April of 2010 while his wife recently retired from teaching at Cape Girardeau public schools for 12 years. The two have served on numerous councils at Southeast Missouri State University including the Foundation Board, Booster Club and Redhawks Club. They are both members of the Copper Dome Society and have donated an annual scholarship to the Department of Education. The Copper Dome Society recognizes people who donate regularly to Southeast.

The Redigers have had six family members who have graduated, are planning to graduate or currently work at Southeast and consider the university to be a large part of their lives.

Last Friday, university president Kenneth W. Dobbins awarded the couple with the 2014 Friend of the University Award. This award is the highest honor granted by Southeast's University Foundation Board.

Q: Can you tell me a little bit about your history with Southeast?

I first got started with Southeast back in 1980. I was invited to a meeting on campus to talk about the idea of starting a foundation and that was kind of the beginning of the foundation [board] and my beginning relationship with Southeast. I then got involved with the Booster Club. We have had children attend Southeast and graduate from Southeast. I have a daughter that lettered four years in softball at Southeast, we've had grandchildren attend and graduate from Southeast, we have one grandson graduating from Southeast this December, so we've been pretty involved there.

I got involved with the foundation and several different committees, I chaired the foundation for two terms and my wife is on the foundation currently.

We endowed a scholarship in the Department of Education this past year for a student, so we're Southeast fans and continue to attend functions at Southeast and sporting events at Southeast. We enjoy the River Campus and Southeast is a very big part of our community, and I am very interested in, you know, further developing our community, and Southeast is a great community partner.

Q: So you originally joined Southeast as a foundation member?

No, this was just a meeting way back in the early to mid 80s when Dr. Bob Foster and a group of us were initially talking about beginning a foundation at the university.

Q: So was your grandson your inspiration for donating an education scholarship?

No, my wife Fran was an elementary teacher and the scholarship is in her name, and it was furthering education because she has been very supportive and believes so much in a higher education in the education field.

Q: Is Fran still active on campus with any kind of organization?

Yes, she is with education, with the Power of Women, the Walk for Women, a member of the Foundation Board now, and of course we're both very big booster members.

Q: What exactly does the Friend of the University Award mean to you?

It's the highest award given by the foundation. I've always admired through the years those people who have been awarded the friend of the university and how dedicated they have been to the university. It's a big honor to both Fran and I. We were both very humbled by the honor, and we will cherish it and it will be an exciting week as we actually receive the Friend of the University. It means a great deal to us, and it is a very personal honor.

Q: Is there more to the Friend of the University Award after receiving it at the banquet on Feb. 28?

The ceremony will be at the River Campus that evening I think at 6:30 p.m. But we'll be this year's Friend of the University in all future publications. I always look at the list every year with the foundation's annual report that comes out and other functions where they recognize friends of the university. It's an honor to be put in friend of the university. It's an honor to be put in their company.

Q: In the press release president Dobbins said that you and Fran have given of your 'time, talent and treasures.' Is there anything specific that comes to mind when you think of these things?

Well, when I was in business I devoted a lot of time to the business community, and I have used that expertise and decisions through the foundation, but just as I said earlier our time with the boosters, with athletic endeavors and we also enjoy the River Campus and we support the university every year as members of not only the Copper Dome [Society], but of the President's Council and of course supporting the university financially, every year, we have for years and years.

Q: Is there anything in particular that you most enjoy about Southeast? Is there something that really stands out?

What I enjoy most about Southeast throughout the years is seeing it grow. To see it grow and become a very important educational institution on this side of the state and the growth and quality of the university that serves not only our citizens in Cape Girardeau but throughout this region, nationally and now internationally. It has just been very rewarding to see the growing stature and numbers.

Q: What do you think the biggest change has been since you originally started working with Southeast?

Probably the campus and the reach that the campus has had, the growth of campus, the infrastructure, the course offerings, the addition of the science and technology buildings, the addition that was closest to my heart was the addition of the Dempster School of Business and master's program there. And then of course the River Campus and the school of theater and dance has been very noticeable as the university continues to grow.

Q: Did either you or Fran have a really strong reaction when you heard you were given this award?

Yeah, we did. I got that phone call and I said 'we are very honored,' we are in the company of some very dedicated people to Southeast. We are very thrilled with it, very humbled and very honored..

Q: What other awards have stood out to you in the past?

I've had other awards, the Rush Limbaugh Community Service Award through the Chamber of Commerce, a United Way award, awards through St. Francis, and I've just had several through the years. But the two that stick out in my mind are going to be the Rush H. Limbaugh Community Service Award and the Friend of the University Award. Those are the two that really, really stand out. And of course being awarded both Fran and I together as the friend of the university -- that stands on top.

Q: Do you have any future plans for things you want to work with Southeast on?

We'll continue. This isn't the end. We'll continue to serve Southeast, we'll continue to support financially Southeast, we'll continue to watch Southeast grow. I have three grandchildren now and we're getting up there in years, so might not see them get to Southeast, but I kind of think they may have some Redhawk blood in them, too.