Missouri Military Academy urges official-state designation, citing tourism and $20–22 million impact
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Summary
Supporters told the House tourism committee that designating Missouri Military Academy in Mexico as the state's official military academy would raise the school's profile, aid recruitment and tourism, and—per the academy's president—support an estimated $20'$22 million regional economic impact; no opposition was recorded at the hearing.
Representative Kent Hayden introduced House Bill 2307 to designate the Missouri Military Academy in Mexico, Mo., as the official military academy of the state. Hayden described MMA as an active, nationally recognized preparatory boarding school that brings tourists and camp participants to Mexico, and he said the designation would help the school without costing the state money.
Brigadier General Richard V. Geraci, U.S. Army retired and president of MMA, testified that the designation would elevate the academy's prestige, strengthen partnerships with higher-education institutions and the Missouri Department of Economic Development, and support recruiting and fundraising. Geraci told the committee the academy employs 121 people—101 of them full-time—and that a University of Missouri study from 2014 estimated an impact of about $14 million for Mexico and surrounding counties; he said the academy's current strategic plan estimates economic impact now at about $20 to $22 million.
Geraci emphasized the designation would be symbolic and would not imply state funding or governance. Jennifer O'Donnell, director of marketing and communications at MMA, and alumni including former Rep. Dan Haux and graduate John Murphy (a KOMU anchor) described student achievements, national recognition and alumni outcomes as reasons to support the bill.
Committee members asked about historical closures of other Missouri military academies and whether MMA has addressed factors such as leadership, recruiting and fundraising; Geraci said leadership was the primary factor in past closures and argued the designation would help the academy avoid similar pitfalls. The committee recorded no testimony in opposition.
The hearing concluded with no recorded committee vote on HB 2307 during the public session.