Energy will continue to be a vital issue for America’s future, legendary energy entrepreneur T. Boone Pickens told a near-capacity crowd at Missouri Western State University’s 19th Convocation on Critical Issues in the Looney Complex arena.
“We are the only country in the world without an energy plan,” Pickens said, who quoted his dad as telling him, “A fool with a plan can beat a genius without a plan.”
Nearly 3,000 people attended the Convocation, which annually brings a nationally known speaker to campus. It was the second largest audience in the Convocation’s history, behind only Gen. Colin Powell in 1997.
Pickens blames a lack of leadership for the absence of an energy plan. He said every president since Richard Nixon has promised to make America energy independent, and all have failed to keep that promise.
“You are at a point where we have to have leadership in Washington,” Pickens said. “It is heartbreaking to me that we keep doing the same thing we’ve been doing and expecting different results.”
Protecting the nation’s supply of oil from the Persian Gulf has been expensive, Pickens said, financially and in terms of lives lost. “Where’s the leadership that says ‘is this really what we want to be doing?’” he asked. “They tell me we have always had a presence there. Well, how has that worked out? I’d say get the hell out of there, come home,” he added, to a round of applause from the audience.
Local attorney R. Dan Boulware, in whose honor the Convocation series is held, introduced Pickens to the near-capacity crowd in the Looney Complex arena.Pickens built Mesa Petroleum from humble beginnings to one of the largest independent natural gas and oil companies in the country. Then, at an age when many people retire, he reinvented himself by establishing one of the nation’s most successful energy-related investment funds. Despite the challenges facing the United States, he told students they can follow his path.
“I know we have some problems in this country, but I think today you have as great an opportunity as I had,” Pickens said. “If you want to get rich, you can get there by working hard and getting a good education. The opportunity is there.”
Ironically, during a speech devoted largely to energy, a brief thunderstorm knocked the power out at Missouri Western as Pickens was ending his talk. After a few minutes in the dark, the audience left the arena in an orderly fashion. Power was restored after about 10 minutes.
For those who were unable to attend, the Convocation will be broadcast on MWTV, Suddenlink Channel 39 in St. Joseph, from Oct. 14 through Nov. 1. Broadcasts are scheduled on Sundays at 7:30 p.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon. In addition, there will be a DVD copy placed in the Missouri Western library for viewing. According to the terms of the contract with Pickens, the speech will not be placed on the web, and the DVD may only be viewed in the library. It may not be checked out.
During the Convocation Luncheon, Pickens answered written questions submitted by audience members. Kent Heier, assistant director of public relations and marketing, asked the questions.Following the Convocation, Pickens participated in a question-and-answer session at the Convocation Luncheon in the Fulkerson Center, attended by nearly 500 people.
The annual Convocation on Critical Issues began in 1993 as part of an overall commitment to offer enriching experiences to students while bringing together the university and the community. It is sponsored by the Missouri Western State University Foundation and held in honor of R. Dan Boulware, a local attorney and past president of Missouri Western’s Board of Regents.
Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.