Kirkwood School Board Dedicates Science Center
New Earl and Myrtle Walker Science Center is located at the high school

November 09, 2007
More than 150 community members joined state and local dignitaries, including Mo. Gov. Matt Blunt, at the Kirkwood School District dedication ceremony for the new science facility at Kirkwood High School (KHS) on Nov. 1.

The new science center is located on the northwest corner of the high school on the 900 block of Dougherty Ferry Road (south side of campus).

The Kirkwood Board of Education dedicated the new building as the "Earl and Myrtle Walker Science Center," in honor of the Walkers for their generosity in providing educational opportunities for children in the Kirkwood School District throughout the years.

Gov. Matt Blunt introduced the Walkers, who are 1939 and 1938 alumni of KHS. The Walkers donated $800,000 to equip the new science center with state-of-the-art technology and equipment.

In addition to the Walkers, several key contributors were also recognized at the dedication. The Robert G. Reim Foundation donated funds to provide the technology and science equipment for one of the classrooms. This room was dedicated as the "Bob and Lu Reim Chemistry Room," in honor of the Reim family and the late Mr. Reim, who served as mayor of Kirkwood from 1964-1972.

A surprise announcement was made to acknowledge Blanton and Peg Whitmire for their generous donation to fund classroom equipment in honor of former KHS principal Franklin McCallie. A classroom plaque will read "In Honor of Former Principal Franklin McCallie's Commitment to Students."

Other private donors contributed to equipping the science center through the "Pioneering the Advancement of Science" campaign conducted by the Kirkwood School District Foundation.

Community members of the Proposition I Campaign Committee were recognized for their support through the successful passage of Proposition I in 2005.

In addition to Gov. Blunt, other state and local dignitaries in attendance were: State Sen. President Pro Tem Michael Gibbons, R-Kirkwood; Speaker of the House Rod Jetton, R-Marble Hill; state Rep. Rick Stream, R-Kirkwood; several members of the Missouri Joint Committee on Education, and the mayors and fire chiefs of the district's various communities.