shil•le•lagh 

n. a club or cudgel of blackthorn or oak from Shillelagh, County Wicklow, Ireland. St. Patrick, the patron saint of engineers, is said to have carried a shillelagh to defend his followers. 

In 1977, a group of concerned individuals realized that without private support it would become increasingly difficult for the University of Missouri-Rolla to maintain the high quality of education associated with the institution since its founding in 1870 as Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy. They acted on their concern by founding the Order of the Golden Shillelagh to give people a way to “pick up the shillelagh” to support Missouri University of Science and Technology. 

Executive Committee

Executive committee members serve three-year terms, with opportunities for OGS leadership roles for those who are interested. Members attend two virtual meetings per year. The committee’s top priority is to help ensure the organization continues to serve its members for generations to come.

Executive Committee Members
  • Craig Barnes, Chair
  • Lisa Bonnot
  • Al Kaplan
  • Breck Washam, Vice-Chair
  • Mandy Carney
  • Cordell Smith
  • Dan Bailey
  • Sarah Jones
  • Tory Verkamp

Founding Committee

These forward-thinking alumni and friends founded the Order of the Golden Shillelagh nearly 50 years ago to strengthen and sustain Missouri University of Science and Technology. Today their legacy continues to inspire the philanthropic spirit of OGS and guide the growth of one of the nation’s top technological research universities.

Founding Members
  • Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Abbett
  • Mr. and Mrs. E. Jefferson Crum
  • Mr. and Mrs. Paul T. Dowling
  • Mr. and Mrs. Fred W. Finley
  • Mr. C. James Grimm
  • Mr. and Mrs. Alden G. Hacker
  • Mrs. Marjory M. Hasselmann
  • Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Holmes
  • Mr. Charles B. Kentnor Jr.
  • Mr. and Mrs. Harry H. Kessler
  • Mr. and Mrs. Fred S. Kummer
  • Mr. and Mrs. Floyd S. Macklin
  • Mrs. Roy N. McBride
  • Mr. and Mrs. Belding H. McCurdy
  • Mr. and Mrs. Ralph E. McKelvey
  • Mr. and Mrs. Vachel H. McNutt
  • Mr. and Mrs. M.E. “Bob” Nevins
  • Mr. and Mrs. Murray J. Paul
  • Mr. and Mrs. Walter E. Remmers
  • Mr. and Mrs. Rodman A. St. Clair
  • Mr. and Mrs. Bernard R. Sarchet
  • Mr. and Mrs. Hans E. Schmoldt
  • Mr. and Mrs. Walter T. Schrenk
  • Mr. and Mrs. Ed A. Smith
  • Mr. and Mrs. S.A. Stone
  • Mr. Virgil L. Whitworth
  • Mr. and Mrs. Henry E. Zoller