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HANNIBAL, MO. -- The new president of Hannibal LaGrange University joins the ranks of former presidents which include Larry Lewis, Paul Brown and Woodrow Burt.

And Dr. Anthony Allen's vision for the university is to grow and educate leaders for today, tomorrow and the future.

It was amid pomp and circumstance, a choir, dignitaries from area colleges and family and friends. Hannibal LaGrange University inaugurated their 17th president.

Allen takes over following the retirement of Dr. Woodrow Burt and already Allen has plans for the future of the Christian based university. But the keynote speaker who is a friend and mentor of the new president had some words of wisdom for the new president.

David Dockery is the president of Union University in Jackson Tennessee. "But I want to remind you that that it's been said that the president of a Baptist university needs the mind of a scholar, the caring spirit of a pastor, the savvy of a business leader, the heart of a child and the hide of a rhinoceros," Dockery said.

Allen said his presidency will be based on four pillars of excellence. They are: being distinctively Christian, demonstrating commitment, being an institution that is academically excellent. And making sure the university is strategically focused. But Allen had words of encouragement for the faculty at HLGU.

"Excellence in Christian higher education must begin with a stellar faculty. And I'm committed to investing in the faculty to see that we have the necessary resources to fulfill our mission to teach and to educate students in the classroom," Allen said.

And as Allen was about to officially become the next university president, a longtime friend of his and pastor told him that the people who will build the future of Hannibal LaGrange University, will be the students he sends out of the college in the years to come and Allen said he hopes he can serve the college for many years to come as well.

HLGU is affiliated with the Missouri Baptist Convention. Click here for more information.