Past: Crisp Museum 'Talks on Tuesday' presents 'How Missouri Became the Official State of the Mule'

Find out “How Missouri Became the Official State of the Mule” at this installment of the “Talks on Tuesday” series Oct. 1 in the Rosemary Berkel and Harry L. Crisp II Museum at Southeast Missouri State University’s River Campus.

Richard Flentge, author and Cape Girardeau businessman, will give the presentation at 7 p.m., which is free and open to the public.

“It’s almost impossible to tell the story of Missouri without telling the story of the mule,” said Flentge, author of “Mule Tack: How Missouri Became the Official State of the Mule.”

This entertaining and educational presentation includes lighthearted jokes and phrases inspired by the stubbornness and heartiness of the mule. Flentge will explain how Charles and Lois Woodford’s efforts involving a statewide tour and the argument delivered before the Missouri House of Representatives for House Bill 84, known as the “mule legislation,” encouraged former Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan to sign legislation in 1993 adopting the mule as the official state animal.

Flentge is a 1986 Southeast graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He carries on the family tradition as a storyteller after his father, and is shop supervisor at EVtv Motorwerks, where he communicates worldwide to expand development of electric vehicles and energy storage devices.

The “Talks on Tuesday” series takes place at 7 p.m. on select Tuesdays in the Crisp Museum. The talks consist of short, informational presentations and discussion sessions. For more information, visit semo.edu/museum/education.html.