After more than 30 years at Missouri Southern, lifelong learning will say goodbye to its vice president, Dr. Jack Spurlin.

Spurlin began working at Southern in 1975 after his extensive law enforcement career. His résumé at Southern includes stints as the Police Academy training coordinator, department head and dean of the school of technology. His retirement will take effect at the end of the semester.

Dr. Jerry Williams, director of lifelong learning, described Spurlin as, “the ‘one’ which has lead us into the delivery of courses and degrees via the Internet. He has been the ‘one’ that I have been able to call my friend and supervisor.”

The lifelong learning program provides courses for students through the Internet, videos and televised lessons.

In the past years the program has grown to involve more than 700 students and lifelong learning has strived to keep with up-to-date technology. Some students even attend Southern through distance learning courses alone.

“It has been through Spurlin’s relentless persuasive efforts to promote these principals, that distance learning has grown,” Williams said.