BRANSON - Doug Libla of Poplar Bluff received the Missouri Community College Association’s Distinguished Alumni Award at the association’s annual convention in Branson.
Libla is a business owner who got his start at Three Rivers College in 1971. Born and raised in Greenville, Libla began his business career as the owner/operator of Doug’s Sinclair & Tire. Since 1977, he and his brother David have been involved in many startup companies, including operations in manufacturing, transportation, telecommunications, heavy construction, automotive products, and industrial and commercial real estate. Today, Libla is the co-owner of Mid Continent Nail, an industry leader with a national reputation.
Libla has used his business acumen and connections to support the college he attended over 40 years ago. He was one of the first people to join the college’s new endowment trust in 2009, and he has used his business background and contacts to make the endowment’s first years a success. He also used his connections to bring former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee to speak at TRC’s 2011 commencement. Huckabee’s appearance at the college brought considerable attention, and the proceeds of a reception with him provided seed money for a $16 million capital campaign. Libla was a major sponsor of the reception, and he plans to remain actively engaged in the capital campaign throughout its duration.
In addition to Libla’s service to Three Rivers, he and his wife Elaine are involved in many community organizations, including the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Missouri Association of State Troopers Emergency Relief Society, Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, and Ozarks Foothills Regional Planning Commission, Haven House, Boys and Girls Club, the Baptist Children’s Home. The Liblas have one daughter, Cassie; son-in-law Daniel; and two grandsons, Noah and Joseph.
The Missouri Community College Association is a statewide organization through which Missouri’s community colleges work together to advance common agendas.
MCCA provides advocacy, education, information, and networking opportunities in service of the state’s 5,700 community college faculty, staff, administrators, and trustees.
Photo Above: Doug and Elaine Libla (center) at the Missouri Community College Association convention. With them are Dr. Devin Stephenson, president of Three Rivers College (left) and Zora Milligan (right), executive director of MCCA. (Three Rivers photo)
