MISSOURI SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE ROD JETTON
TO SPEAK AT THREE RIVERS COMMENCEMENT

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. - Missouri Speaker of the House Rod Jetton will be the speaker at the 2008 Spring Commencement at Three Rivers Community College, according to college president Dr. John F. Cooper.
 
 Three River's commencement will begin at 7 p.m., Thursday, May 22 in the Bess Activity Center on the TRCC campus.
 
 "We are honored to have Speaker Jetton deliver Three Rivers' Commencement address during Three River's 40th anniversary celebration," said Cooper. "Speaker Jetton has been a truly outstanding leader for Missouri and an advocate for our state's community colleges. He understands the important role of community colleges in Missouri."
 
In 2002, the people of Missouri's 156th legislative district elected Rod Jetton to the Missouri House of Representatives. Two years later Jetton was elected Speaker Pro Tem of the Missouri House of Representatives. On January 5, 2005, Rod Jetton was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives. Jetton focuses his legislative efforts on his continued commitment to quality education, fiscal responsibility, traditional family values, and protecting Missouri jobs.
 
Jetton was elected in 1996 to the Bollinger County Commission, becoming the youngest county commissioner in the state at that time. He is a 1986 graduate of Charleston High School, and earned a bachelor's degree in political science and history from Southwest Baptist University.             

Following graduation from SBU, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served four years as an infantry officer in operations in Bosnia and Somalia.  Jetton is a member of the Harmony Congregation Church, Chamber of Commerce, Optimist Club, Christian Coalition, VFW Post 5900, Missouri Farm Bureau, the National Rifle Association, and National Federation of Independent Business.