MURA Board Officers

President: Barton Boyle

Barton Boyle began his career at MU in 1960 as Assistant Director, University of Missouri Medical Center. In 1962 was appointed Associate Director of UMMC and continued until 1980. During his tenure at MU's Medical Center McHaney Hall was converted into Rusk Rehabilitation Center, the Mid-Missouri Mental Health Center was constructed, and Truman VA Hospital opened. Additional instruction space was constructed, which allowed for an increase in the size of the Medical School student body. He then served as administrator of hospitals at Ohio State and the University of Oklahoma before retiring to Columbia.

Past President: Kee Groshong

From 1965 to retirement in 2002: Assistant to MU’s Director of Accounting, Accounting Services manager, Director of Business Services, Vice Chancellor of Administrative Services; Barbara S. Uehling Award for Administrative Excellence (1988); Columbia Chamber of Commerce Board chair (1998-1999), Citizen of the Year Award (2002); Regional Economic Development Inc. Board chair (2002). Presently: Mizzou Credit Union Board chair, First Baptist Church treasurer, Columbia South Rotary Club, Columbia Railroad Advisory Board, Mo. River Valley Steam Engine Association board, Chamber of Commerce committees, University Club board, and MURA Board of Directors. Hobbies include travel and restoring antique farm tractors. Married to Columbia native Diana, sharing two children and two grandchildren – all of Columbia.

President-Elect: Jack Miles

Jack Miles attended the University of Missouri where he earned bachelors and masters degrees in education. He was inducted into Phi Delta Kappa, a national graduate honor society in education and, upon graduation, received a commission in the US Army Artillery through the ROTC Department. In 1962 Jack assumed the position of Assistant Executive Director of the Missouri State High School Activities Association, and in 1977 took over the reigns as the MSHSAA Executive Director, retiring from that position in 1992. In 1995, the Show-Me-State Games, a program conducted under the sponsorship of the University of Missouri, was adding the Missouri State Senior Games and needed someone to head up the program. Jack was the first coordinator of the Missouri State Senior Games, a position he held for over ten years. Following his retirement, Jack was recognized by the Kiwanis Club of Columbia as the recipient of the 2005 Kiwanis Don Faurot Sportsperson of the Year Award.

Secretary: Mary Ellen Kanak

In July 2009, Mary Ellen Kanak began a 2-year term as secretary for MURA. Mary Ellen became a lifetime member of MURA when she retired from the University of Missouri in March 2008 after 11-1/2 years of service. During her tenure at MU, she worked in the offices of Admissions, the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies for the College of Education and the Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services. Prior to returning to her home state of Missouri in 1997, she was a cartographer/geologic draftsperson for the Oklahoma Geological Survey at the University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma and the personal secretary to the Dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, California. In addition to MURA, Mary Ellen is a member of the Boone County Historical Society, the Missouri River Valley Steam Engine Association and the Notre Dame Club of Central Missouri. She still works part-time in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services at MU. Mary Ellen enjoys history, art history, antiques, traveling and volunteering for the Concert Series.

Treasurer: Gary Zwonitzer

Gary Zwonitzer began University of Missouri service in 1967 as Administrative Assistant in the U-Wide Staff Budget Office. Held positions in Jesse Hall as Assistant Director and Director of the Budget Office, Assistant and Associate Fiscal Business Officer, and Assistant Business Officer, which covered the period July 1967 to September 1987. In September 1987 was appointed Director of Business Affairs for the MU Athletic Department, holding that position until November 1993 when he returned to Jesse Hall as Academic Budget Officer in the Provost's Office, holding that position until retirement in 1999.