Days Before His Retirement, Drury Alumnus Bob Barker to Address Graduates at His Alma Mater

Days Before His Retirement, Drury Alumnus Bob Barker to Address Graduates at His Alma Mater

SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Dec. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Bob Barker, host of TV's The Price Is Right, surprised the entertainment world with his announcement in October that he will retire from the long-running show in June 2007.

Just two weeks before that final show airs, Barker will return to his roots in the Missouri Ozarks when he receives an honorary degree and addresses graduates at his alma mater, Drury University. It will be the first honorary degree Barker has received.

The graduation ceremony will be at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 12, 2007, in Weiser Gymnasium on the Drury University campus in Springfield, Mo.

"We are absolutely thrilled that Mr. Barker has accepted our invitation to address our newest alumni. He is the most famous graduate of Drury, and we look forward to welcoming him back to his college home and introducing him to students and faculty," said President John Sellars.

The Price Is Right is the longest-running game show in history and is now in its 35th season. Barker has been a continuous daily presence on television for 50 years, a record unmatched by anyone. His awards and accolades include 17 Emmy Awards, with 13 for outstanding game show host. In 2004 he was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame.

Drury University has taken the lead among private universities in the Midwest in truly integrating a liberal arts education with comprehensive professional programs. At Drury, the power of intensive faculty and staff mentoring in small-class settings creates an atmosphere of high academic expectation grounded in a supportive learning community, an ideal combination that produces leaders ready to serve in a global community. For more information, visit www.drury.edu.

University Communications staff are available to news media 24 hours a day at (417) 300-0905. Visit the Office of University Communications online at http://news.drury.edu/. Resources include a searchable Expert Guide, staff contacts and downloadable print-quality images and logos.

Source: Drury University

CONTACT: Holly Guerreiro, Interim Director of University Communications
of Drury University, +1-417-873-7390, hguerreiro@drury.edu

Web site: http://www.drury.edu/

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