Northwest presents honorary degree to Harr for dedicated service

Dr. Patrick Harr (left) stands by as Northwest presented him Saturday with an honorary degree. Northwest President Dr. John Jasinski presented the degree to Harr as Northwest Director of Athletics Andy Peterson, Head Athletic Trainer Kelly Quinlin and former Head Athletic Trainer Dr. David “D.C.” Colt took turns reflecting on Harr’s service and friendship. (Photo by Todd Weddle/Northwest Missouri State University)

Northwest Missouri State University on Saturday recognized Dr. Patrick B. Harr with an honorary degree in commemoration of his service to the University and Bearcat athletics.

Northwest President Dr. John Jasinski presented Harr with the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree during the intermission between Saturday’s Bearcat basketball games at Bearcat Arena.

Harr, who was born and raised in Maryville, attended Horace Mann Laboratory School and then Northwest as a pre-med student before completing his medical degree at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine.

After completing his service in the U.S. Air Force, Harr returned to Maryville in 1974 to begin his medical career. He worked as a family physician for nearly 40 years until retiring as a practicing physician in 2012. He continues to serve as a volunteer physician for Bearcat and Maryville Spoofhound athletics team.

Northwest Director of Athletics Andy Peterson, Head Athletic Trainer Kelly Quinlin and former Head Athletic Trainer Dr. David “D.C.” Colt took turns reflecting on Harr’s service and friendship during the presentation.

“There is no doubt, no one in the history of Bearcat athletics and this institution has had a larger impact on the lives of our athletes and our athletic department than Dr. Patrick B. Harr,” Peterson, a Northwest alumnus and former Bearcat basketball player said before turning to thank Harr. “Your passion for Bearcat athletics is unmatched as you have stuck with us through our lowest of lows and our highest of highs.”

Quinlin, a Northwest alumna who gained from the mentorship of Harr as well as Colt, said to Harr, “We appreciate your time, your talent and your willingness to drop whatever it is you’re doing to provide advice and care for our student-athletes. You are always willing to volunteer your time doing tens of thousands of athletic physicals over the years, attending practices and games and even traveling to away events on his own or with the teams.  What you do goes above and beyond what is expected of a team physician and we are forever grateful.”

Colt, who worked alongside Harr as Northwest’s head athletic trainer from 1981 until retiring in 2008, said, “It’s hard to describe how much he has meant to me, personally and professionally. He has given so much to this University. He was my counsel and often-wise sage for 27 years. I know some of the coaches have felt that same counsel and sage over the years, not just me and not just Kelly. His heartfelt care for our athletes and desire to treat them as a patients first and athletes second should make each and every athlete and parent feel good about how they are treated here.”

In addition to his service with numerous professional and civic organizations, Harr is a member of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and the Sports Medicine Hall of Fame Missouri Athletic Trainers Association.

Harr served with the Northwest Board of Regents from 2013 to 2019, serving as Board Chair from 2015 to 2019. His Board tenure saw Northwest enhance its performance excellence across numerous areas that include reduced debt, balanced budgets and strengthened financials; strengthened enrollment; the launch of a diversity and inclusion office, professional schools, profession-based learning and the Forever Green campaign for Northwest; the implementation of math pathways, Academic Partnerships online programs and competency-based education, among other academic programs; and facility upgrades including a Horace Mann outdoor classroom, the Harr Athletic Success Center, the Carl and Cheryl Hughes Fieldhouse and the Dr. Patrick and Teri Harr Athletic Training Center; the Robert and Virginia Foster Fitness Center; and the University Police Department and Materials Distribution Center, as well as upgrades to KXCV-KRNW and Wells Hall, the Olive DeLuce Fine Arts Building, the McKemy Center, Bearcat Arena, residence halls, the J.W. Jones Student Union, the Thomas Gaunt House, the Michael L. Faust Center for Alumni and Friends, the Mark Rosewell Tennis Center, Bearcat Stadium and the Administration Building.