MSU names accounting school after Pendleton family

The School of Accountancy at Missouri State University will now carry the name of the Pendleton family.

The university announced a seven-figure gift and the naming change during a Feb. 9 ceremony in Glass Hall, home of the College of Business. The specific donation amount from the Pendletons was undisclosed.

The Pendleton Family School of Accountancy has nearly 600 undergraduate and graduate students and 12 faculty members including director Kimberly Church.

“This milestone moment – the university’s first named school – was made possible thanks to a significant seven-figure gift from alumnus Dick Pendleton and his three daughters,” said Brent Dunn, executive director of the MSU Foundation, in a news release.

Pendleton’s daughters are Sheri Law, Sally Phillips and Tracy Myrick.

“We’re grateful to Dick and his family for their commitment to advancing accounting education in the College of Business,” said MSU President Richard “Biff” Williams, in the release. “It’s an honor for our School of Accountancy to bear the Pendleton family name, and we’re excited to continue a lasting partnership with them.”

The gift is centered on students and faculty and will be used to elevate teaching, learning and mentorship, officials said

“This gift strengthens every aspect of our school,” said David Meinert, dean and David D. Glass distinguished leadership chair of the College of Business, in the release.

“By expanding access through scholarships, supporting faculty excellence and enhancing experiential learning, it ensures our accounting graduates are prepared to lead and innovate in a rapidly evolving profession,” Meinert said.

In 1966, Pendleton graduated with a business finance degree from what is now Missouri State.

He began his career at Baird, Kurtz and Dobson in Springfield, a certified public accounting firm with three offices. He became a CPA in 1970 and a tax partner in 1974.

The firm, later known as BKD, grew to 34 offices and after a merger in 2021 and the formation of a global network in 2024, is now Forvis Mazars, a top 10 global professional services network.

The university said MSU has played a significant role in BKD’s and Forvis’ development through its accounting graduates.

“My education at Southwest Missouri State gave me a strong foundation – not just in accounting, but in discipline, ethics and problem solving,” Pendleton said in the release. “The degree I earned opened doors throughout my career, and I’ve always felt fortunate and proud to be a graduate of the university.”

Two of his daughters became CPAs, and two of his granddaughters are also following in his footsteps.

“Leaving a family legacy is especially meaningful to me,” Pendleton said. “Supporting the accounting program at Missouri State allows me to give back in a way that matters – by investing in future CPAs, supporting the school’s faculty and helping ensure that every student who chooses accounting at Missouri State receives a high-quality educational experience.”

The family has supported Missouri State in other ways, including student scholarships, officials said