Leaving behind a legacy of dedication and caring, Dr. Jim Maupin died at age 83 Jan. 22.

Maupin was the first dean of technology at Missouri Southern.

“He had a strong military background,” said University President Julio León. “His sense of timeliness and organization; it’s always appreciated.”

León said he had worked closely with Maupin after they first met in 1969 when León began his career at Southern.

Maupin, on the other hand, had been at Southern since 1954 when it was, at the time, Joplin Junior College. Maupin taught biology courses and his expertise were needed in creating a crime lab at the college’s current location in 1971.

“One of the major needs in this area [was] to have a crime lab,” said Dr. Phillip Whittle, crime lab director. “I was the only one teaching organic chemistry and he asked me if I could look at a list of equipment.”

Whittle said Maupin wanted to work to build the program as much as he could.

“Forensics science was fairly new at the time,” he said.

Whittle said he and Maupin and other faculty members pulled their knowledge together to build the crime lab and connected areas. Soon, the criminal justice program was implemented.

Those who worked with Maupin said he cared about Southern and often visited after he retired in 1992.

“He truly loved the school of technology,” said Dr. Tia Strait, dean of technology.

Strait said Maupin would visit her office most every Wednesday afternoon and see what was going on.

“He built a very solid foundation on which the school grew,” Strait said.

She said Maupin was instrumental in bringing every program under the school of technology into existence except for the respiratory therapy program.

Dr. John Tiede, director of major gifts and planned giving with the Southern Foundation, became dean of business in 1982.

He worked with Maupin on several projects.

“I worked real closely with him,” Tiede said. “He was really nice to work with and he knew everybody in town.”

Tiede said Maupin would often ask his advice to make sure courses were not offered in duplicate through the school of business and the school of technology.

There were also several personal memories of Maupin among the faculty members.

León said though Maupin was quiet on the subject, he had an extensive military career.

“He was really a hero,” León said. “He served in North Africa, Sicily and Italy during World War II. He became an aide to General Patton.”

During his time in the army, Maupin earned the bronze star, silver star and the purple heart.

“That’s why he was buried where the heroes were,” León said.

Maupin’s ashes were buried in Arlington Cemetery after a memorial service was held Jan. 28.

“A lot of people thought he was strict and stern, but he had a good sense of humor,” León said.

Whittle said he once drew up a plan for extra space in the crime lab. He said he drew a small room with a catwalk around the existing space. Since he did it by hand, he gave it to Maupin. Maupin gave the drawing back with the message, “needs more details” written on it.

“We understood each other pretty well,” Whittle said.

Strait said Maupin would share flowers with her after learning she had a water garden at home.

“It was a common interest among us,” she said.

In his retirement, Maupin would raise bees, go hunting with his granddaughters and teach a hunter safety course.

“He was a true friend of Missouri Southern,” Strait said.

Brenda Norman, secretary for the dean of technology, worked with Maupin professionally for 10 years.

“He would often talk about his family,” Norman said.

Strait said when Maupin’s family contacted her about his death, the family asked for Norman to be notified next.

“I was really close to him,” she said.

In 2004, Whittle accepted the Friends of Law Enforcement award from the Jasper and Newton county sheriff departments on behalf of Maupin.

Whittle said Maupin was too ill to accept the award in person, but Whittle gave the award to him afterward. A friend took a picture of Maupin’s acceptance of the award from Whittle. Whittle keeps a copy of the picture still.

Maupin’s voice will always be remembered among those who knew him.

“He was a man of few words,” Strait said. “But, when dean Maupin spoke, you listened.”

Maupin Hall was named in his honor after his retirement.

León said the naming was simply to remember how much Maupin had done for the University.

“Dean Maupin is the person they need to thank for initiating the quality degrees we have on campus today and he established the high standards that we maintain today,” Strait said.