March 18, 2024

Myron Rollins, B.S. EE ’74, was honored with the Citation of Merit Award at Mizzou Engineering’s annual Award Banquet March 15.

The award, conferred by the MU Engineering Alumni Organization, recognizes those who have distinguished themselves in service to the College and profession.

“It was a surprise,” he said. “It’s pretty humbling. I didn’t expect it. There have been a lot of great people who have received it.”

Rollins has been involved in the MU Engineering Alumni Organization (MUEAO) for more than 30 years, including having served as an officer of the board. For him, service to the group was a way to keep connected to the College, which he says played a pivotal role in his life.

“One of the things that has struck me is how wonderful and important the College of Engineering is,” he said. “It gave me a great education, allowed me to have a great career and allowed me to meet my best friends and my wife. Everything in my life goes back to being attributable to the University and the College of Engineering.”

After earning his degree and working toward a master’s in nuclear engineering, Rollins accepted a role at Black & Veatch, where he would spend nearly 40 years. Specifically, he worked in and eventually led the Utility System Planning Group, providing consulting services and financial analysis to utility companies across the country. He provided services to hundreds of U.S. utilities during his career assisting in power plant siting, plant modifications, fuel resource costs and licensing for power plants for public service commissions and environmental agencies.

While it’s always been important to him to give back to the College, Rollins stressed that being involved in Mizzou Engineering is fun.

“I was involved in student organizations at Mizzou, including Engineers’ Club and the American Nuclear Society student chapter—and to me, the engineering alumni organization is an extension of that,” he said. “I had great fun in College, and I still have great fun while still doing things that need to be done—in this case, making the College bigger, better and greater.”