DeWeese's Gift Honors Mentor, Library

Ellis Library is home to many wonderful books as well as a second home to June DeWeese since the day she stepped on campus and took a student job at the library. DeWeese, BA ’72, M Ed ’73, grew up in Harrison County on a farm outside of Bethany, Missouri. Before graduating, DeWeese met her husband at a dance on campus. "He [Gary DeWeese] lived in Defoe and I lived in Johnston." After the dance, they started dating and were married in 1972. By 1974, DeWeese was hired as a full-time librarian, where she worked until retirement in 2014.

While working for the library as a student, her future career was determined by Alma Bennett—at the time her mentor and later her friend. Bennett was the Social Science Librarian and department head during the 1970s. Bennett decided DeWeese's career for her. After taking a walk together through campus, Bennett proudly told DeWeese she was the best fit for the program. Both mentor and mentee knew the next step for DeWeese was furthering her graduate education and future profession at MU. "The library was the perfect career for me," DeWeese explained, something that Alma Bennett knew all along.

Now enjoying retirement, DeWeese frequents Daniel Boone Regional Library in Columbia, Missouri, and, except for church on Sunday, is happy to not use an alarm clock. DeWeese frequently attends women's volleyball and basketball games during the season as well. When asked why she and her husband decided to generously give, DeWeese said, "The library and university were good to us, and we need to give back."

Several years ago, DeWeese and another mentee of Bennett's, Marjorie Pinkerton, MA ’73, created the Alma Bennett Endowment in honor of her guidance and support. The endowment is used to buy specific resources in social science disciplines. Upstairs in Ellis Library, you can visit the honorary plaque today. DeWeese is currently a member of the Legacy Society and Library Society at the University of Missouri. Her bequest benefits the June L. and Gary W. DeWeese Friends of the University of Missouri Libraries Fund.