Bob Foos
Although Ron Lankford spread his positive influence to many communities, he will be remembered most in the Webb City R-7 School District, where he was an administrator for 33 years.
He followed Ron Barton, his high school principal at Seneca, to Webb City in 1977. Initially, he followed Barton as the junior high principal. And then in 1979, Barton was promoted from assistant superintendent to succeed Superintendent Buck Miner. The School Board followed Barton’s recommendation to make Lankford the new high school principal.
In 2016, Shelby Rowe reported on Lankford’s career in education in an article for Jefferson City’s News Tribune newspaper:
During his first year as principal at Webb City High School, he quickly became unpopular with some of the students after doing away with the school smoking area. But the decision garnered him tremendous local support, especially with parents who had no idea the smoking area even existed.
While serving at the high school he channeled his energy into improving the rural school’s academics and encouraged students to believe they could branch out from their small hometown. The school adopted the philosophy, “We can go anywhere from here.”
“When I left, we convinced our kids that they could think beyond the city limits,” he said. “They can compete athletically, in speech and debate, in quiz bowl. We can compete with anyone. Sometimes, when you grow up in an area that isn’t the epicenter, you begin to think you can’t compete with the epicenter.”
Lankford later became the assistant superintendent and succeeded Barton when he retired. He was particularly known for his attention to the district’s finances with his endless spreadsheets and was instrumental in the passage of bond issues for several building projects.
In his November 2009 letter of resignation to the school board, Lankford hinted that he wasn’t retiring completely.
“Personally, I do not feel I am yet “burned out.” I could see myself continuing to be engaged in some facet of education for a while longer,” Lankford wrote.
Just three months later, barely into his last semester at Webb City, it became known that he would only be without a job for a month that summer.
Chris L. Nicastro, the state commissioner of education, announced that she had selected Lankford as her deputy commissioner for fiscal and administrative services.
“Dr. Lankford will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our agency,” Nicastro was quoted as saying in a press release. “He is highly regarded throughout the state and respected for his expertise and leadership in financial management and academic issues. The State Board of Education and I are delighted we were able to attract a leader of his caliber.”
Lankford’s second retirement, in 2016, didn’t stick either. He later helped the Joplin school district with its finances.
However, like a professional athlete who played for several teams, there’s no doubt his legacy belongs mostly at Webb City.
You get that feeling when reading his letter to the editor before the end of his last school year as superintendent.
On June 30, 2010, I will formally leave the service of the Webb City R-7 School District after 33 years. With the closing of the 2009-2010 regular school year on May 28, I felt this would be the appropriate time to express my appreciation to the thousands of persons I have worked with as students, staff and patrons during this time frame.
When I came to the district in 1977 as a rather young and inexperienced educator, I had no idea what the future would hold. Carolyn and I built a home, remained in the district, reared our two children, Christina and Craig, and now have four grandchildren who will most likely be attending the Webb City schools. We have absolutely no regrets about the decision to make the Webb City School District our home and want to thank everyone for making us feel like family.
Over the years, I have learned a great deal both personally and professionally. Webb City has had a history of strong support from members of the Board of Education who understood their role as a policy making body and subsequently allowed the leadership team they hired to direct the day-to-day operations of the school district. Because of that working relationship, the district has enjoyed unusually good harmony between the board, administration, staff, students and patrons. The congruence of purpose among these groups allowed the district to engage in a continuous improvement mode for the past 50 years that ultimately yielded positive results for the students served by the district.
I would, however, be less than honest if I said there is nothing I would have done differently in hindsight. Generally speaking, I am proud of the many accomplishments I have witnessed in the school district, community and most importantly the lives of young men and women. No one individual can take credit for organizational successes. Everyone knows that group success can only be achieved through the hard work, focus and willing collaboration of all its stakeholders.
I would like to thank the patrons of the Webb City R-7 School District for your strong support of the school district as is evidenced by casting YES votes averaging 70 percent in all elections held since 1968.
I would like to thank all staff members who during the past 33 years put forth their best efforts to the benefit of the students.
It is hard to believe that of the nearly 600 employees during my tenure that Donnie “Graduation Matters” Payton is the only staff member remaining who was employed in the district when I arrived.
Finally, I want to both thank and congratulate the students with whom I have worked. I have seen young men and women grow from youth to adulthood and become outstanding members of society and experience success in life. To me this is the most gratifying thing to witness as an educator. It is my hope that each current and future student will realize their potential, maximize it to the fullest and pursue the American Dream by obtaining a quality education that will adequately prepare them to meet their responsibilities in life.
Finally, I just want to say thank you to everyone for all you have done to help me, and to wish you the very best in the years ahead. Never did I dream my career in Webb City would eventually span more than one half the length of my life. But I feel blessed that it did. I have every confidence that the district will continue to move forward in a positive way in the years to come, and I look forward to watching its progress.
With profound gratitude to all,
Ronald Lankford
superintendent
Webb City R-7 School District
One of the students during Lankford’s 33-year tenure here was Brenten Byrd, the current superintendent.
Even though retired, he says Lankford was still having a “huge impact” on the district. “He was the resource we went to for historical perspective. He will definitely be missed.”
Perhaps Lankford’s most lasting impact will be the scholarship program, which began under his leadership and spurred the establishment of the Webb City R-7 School’s Foundation. One of the main scholarships he’s connected to is the Continuing The American Dream Scholarship. Memorial contributions may be made to it through the foundation.
The community will be able to pay its respects to Ron Lankford during visitation on Thursday and at his funeral on Friday.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday in the Cardinal Dome commons, where there will be an open casket and displays of memorabilia.
The funeral will be in the Cardinal Dome at 2 p.m. Friday. School staff members are installing screens and curtains to subdue the athletic atmosphere.
Superintendent Brenten Byrd notes that the Cardinal Dome was chosen as the site because the Ronald R. Barton Performing Arts Center is undergoing a “minor facelift.”
Margie Vandeven, state commissioner of education from 2015 to 2017 and again in 2019, will be among the speakers at the funeral.
