• In 1906 the first University catalog in physical culture and manual training was listed as an academic area of
  study; by 1909 four courses in physical training were listed in the University catalog.
   
• In 1912, Arthur Briggs, graduate of YMCA College, Springfield, MA joined the University faculty to teach
  physical culture courses; physical education was listed as a "special" under the instruction of Christine Hyatt
  for women’s courses and Arthur Briggs for men’s courses.
   
• The Department of Physical Training, now the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation,
  was established in 1913.
   
• In 1913, the first full-time physical culture teacher, Dorthy Jessop, was employed by the University.
   
• The swimming pool at McDonald Arena was dug by hand during the Works Progress Administration (WPA) days
  of the mid-1930’s. It was used as a regional training and qualifying site for the USA Olympic team.
   
• McDonald Arena was built in 1939 as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project; it was 1985 that the building
  received a substantial renovation that altered the east and west gymnasiums and other areas of the facility.
   
• Master of Science In Education - Emphasis in Physical Education began in 1991. First graduate was Sonya Butler McDonald
  in 1995.
   
• The Master Of Science Degree in Health Promotion and Wellness Management was established in 1995. The first graduates
  are expected to complete degree requirements in 1997.
• Bachelor of Science in Exercise & Movement Science was implemented in the fall of 2006. 

Academics

• Physical education is the oldest "preventative" medicine curriculum on record.
   
• All academic degrees in the Department of HPER are in compliance with national accreditation standards.
   
• HPER faculty are past recipients of the prestigious Andrew McDonald Physical Education Award as graduates of
  the HPER department: Chuck Williams, Sharon Baack, and David Oatman.
   
• There have been 63 recipients of the prestigious Andrew McDonald Physical Education Award since its
  inception in 1969.
   
• Thirteen Physical Education majors have been the recipients of the nationally acclaimed National Association
  for Sport and Physical Education award since its inception in 1988.
   
• Several of the PED courses lead to certification in areas that are highly valued by employers (ie. Lifesaving,
  Basic, Intermediate & Survival Swimming, Water Safety Instruction, Hunter Safety Education, Scuba Diving,
  Standard First Aid, and Coaching Certifications.
   
• The Department of HPER has a state-of-the art metabolic analysis system which can be used accurately for
  measurement of oxygen consumption (VO2).
   
• The Department Of HPER has a new motion analysis system which can be used to accurately track movement.

Faculty

• Physical Education faculty have held the distinguished honor of being elected to the position of President of the
  Missouri Association For Health Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance: Mary Jo Wynn, Peggy Thomas,
  Perry Miller and Keith Ernce.
   
• Physical Education faculty, students and graduates are actively involved in the professional organizations of the
  American Alliance For Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance and the Missouri Association For
  Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.
   
• Faculty emeritus in the HPER department are: Jay Kinser, Larry Atwood, Perry Miller, Jim Mentis, George Simpson,
  Bill Thomas, Peggy Thomas, Alex Trombetta, Kay Hunter, Nancy Curry, Duane Addleman, Wes Bair, Gloria Johnson,
  Michael McCarty, Gary Shoemaker, Reba Sims, Gary Thompson, Dale Williams and Tillman Williams.
   
• The Missouri State handball team has won six consecutive national championships under the direction of  Dr. Tommy Burnett.
   
• Bill Thomas,  faculty emeritus, has the distinction of having 41 years of service to Missouri as a physical education teacher and
  coach of the basketball Bears, and is a member of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.
   
• Dr. Chuck Williams, HPER faculty member was known as "The Springfield Rifle" during his collegiate days as a member of the
  Bears basketball squad.
   
• Dr. Tommy Burnett, as a collegiate, was a member of the national champion Arkansas Razorback football team and later as a
  member of the professional football Super Bowl Champion New York Jets - Sports Hall of Fame.
   
• Dr. Gerald Masterson has been inducted into both the NAIA and Arkansas Track and Field Halls of Fame.
• 20 faculty in the Department of HPER hold the terminal degree, the doctorate degree.
   
• The Department of HPER faculty, graduates and students serve on numerous committees, task forces, boards, commissions,
  councils and special projects on campus, in the community and with state and national organizations.
   
• The Department of HPER faculty, graduates and students are involved in numerous local, regional, state national, and
  international conferences and workshops.
   
• The Department of HPER has alumni employed throughout the State of Missouri, nationally and internationally.
• Gayle Runke - Golf Hall of Fame.
• Rhonda Ridinger - Coached Woman's Field Hockey to a National Championship.