b'AWARDS & RECOGNITIONSMizzou. Over the years, he has supported the Trulaske College of Business, where he was a founding member and former chair of the Herbert J. Daven-port Society. He is a past chair of the Trulaske Deans Advisory Board and in 2014, delivered the commencement speech to the colleges graduating class, which included his grandson, Alexander Wood, B.S.B.A. 14.Walsworth and his wife, Audrey Walsworth, B.J. 56, a recognized world traveler, have endowed programs for Trulaske College of Business students interested in exploring developing countries, such as Ethiopia or Papua New Guinea, where living conditions are much different than the U.S. Audrey Walsworth is believed to be among the first women globally to have traveled to every country in the world. Walsworth is an active member of the Mizzou Alumni Association and earned the Distinguished Service Award in 1989the highest honor granted to an individual by MU. He also has served as a director of the University Medical School Outreach Program, which is responsible for helping place physicians in many rural communities throughout Missouri. In 2003, he was appointed DON WALSWORTH RECOGNIZED WITHto the University of Missouri System Board of Curators. A longtime supporter of Mizzou Athletics, Walsworth has served as chairman HONORARY DEGREE DURING TRULASKEof the Champions for Life campaign for Mizzou Athletics, which, to date, hasSTUDY ABROAD OFF raised more than $120 million. Recently, he and his family made a gift to Mizzou Athletics to create a first-class facility for the mens and womens golf teams.Walsworth has also left his mark in civic life and public service with commu- THE BEATEN PATHCOMMENCEMENT CEREMONY nity outreach efforts in Marceline and throughout the state. In 2007, heSupporting students and programs at the Robert was awarded the prestigious Missourian Award, which is bestowed uponJ. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business has been a long Missourians who have made outstanding contributions to their state in civics,tradition for Don and Audrey Walsworth. business, arts or politics.A celebrated explorer, Audrey Walsworth, B.J. 56BY SARA DIEDRICHpick you up and perhaps guide you back onto theWHY HE GIVES BACK who is believed to be among the first women in the Don Walsworth understands the power of givingright path.Walsworth hopes the graduates remembers that none of them arrived toworld to travel to every country around the globe back.In a letter recommending Walworth as an honorarywhere they are today without the support of others. His sense of gratitude has journeyed to the most iconic destinations on He has dedicated his life to serving Missourians, anddegree recipient, Jeffrey Vogel, a member of theis the reason he continues to support Mizzou with time and resources.the planet. But her most memorable and impactful his impact has been felt in fields spanning business,Trulaske Accountancy Advisory Board and chiefadventures are those that have taken her off the . I also learnedentrepreneurship, manufacturing, politics, healthfinancial officer for Walsworth, wrote that hisIts important to say thank you now while it counts, he said Not only isbeaten path to places unadulterated by tourism and employer of more than 20 years has always beenthis the right thing to do, but in business, its all about building relationships that there arecare, athletics, philanthropy, community outreach,a strong advocate for his workers and lives by theand being genuine. A sincere thank you goes a long wayit will help youwhere life is starkly different from that in the United amazing peoplepublic service and more.motto: People make the difference.be successful. States. everywhere,Walsworth, chief executive officer of WalsworthBUILDING A BUSINESS Walworth said he is proud of what he has accomplished. Inspired by these unforgettable travels, Wals-in Marceline, Missoura printing company rankedworth and her husband, Don, endowed programs especially in theamong the top five domestic providers of magazines,After studying printing management at CarnegieIve worked hard and had some lucky breaks, but I think you can make muchfor students at the Trulaske College of Business to Mizzou family,catalogs, books and yearbookswas awarded anMellon University, Walsworth began his career atof your own good fortune, too, if you remember to embrace failure, offerexpand their world view by exploring developing who will supporthonorary doctorate during the Robert J. Trulaske,his familys printing company, Walsworth Inc., in hissecond chances and say thank you as you make your way in the world. countries, such as Ethiopia or Papua New Guinea. Sr. College of Business commencement ceremonyhometown. Ten years later, he became the compa- Shannon Breske, director of study abroad at the you, pick youin May. A 1957 graduate of the University of Missouri,nys president. Today, the company is among the 35 Trulaske College of Business, often reflects on the up and perhapsWalsworth said the road to success hasnt alwayslargest domestic printing companies.time five years ago when she met Walsworth during guide you backbeen easy and that most of the graduates will faceWalsworths business acumen and entrepreneurialInternational Week: onto the rightbumps in their journey, both personally and profes- mindset has earned him numerous accolades overHer amazing stories and experiences left me in awe, path. sionally.the course of his career. In 1975, the Small Business she recalled. How she navigated the many coun-I certainly did, he said.Administration named him Small Businessman oftries alone, the lessons she learned, the gift of travelDon Walsworth said it has been his ability to embracethe Year for the Missouri-Kansas region, and in 1982,and how it changed her life were truly inspiring. Mrs.Walsworth failure, offer second chances and say thank youhe was elected president of the National YearbookWalsworth has changed the lives of the students who that have allowed him to experience success whileManufacturers Association. In 2004, Walsworthrecently traveled to Peru, and many more lives will remaining humble. He also learned the importancereceived the prestigious business honor of Missouri/ be changed because of her generous global schol-of admitting mistakes while still a student at Mizzou.Kansas Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year forarships.Manufacturing. The important takeaway for me is one that appliesPAYING IT FORWARD Walsworths love for adventure was sparked in the in business and in life: Take responsibility for yourlate 1960s when she traveled to Moscow and Lithu-mistake, fix it and move on, Walworth said. But I alsoWalsworth has long been a generous donor to orga- ania to explore her ethnic roots with her mother and learned that there are amazing people everywhere,nizations and causes that are important to him. ButWalsworth celebrates with his family, Dean Balaji Rajagopalan, center, andaunt. By 2005, she had visited every country in the especially in the Mizzou family, who will support you,his single largest philanthropic benefactor has beenRobin Wenneker, right, chair of the MU Board of Curators. United Nations. 42 | TRULASKE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS TRULASKE MAGAZINE 2024| 43'