ROLLA, Mo. — In 1986, Lister B. Florence Jr. began taking classes as a first-year civil engineering student at Missouri University of Science and Technology. Nearly 40 years later, Florence is now a three-time graduate of S&T and the newly elected mayor of Rolla, Missouri.
“I could have never predicted this would be the direction my life would take when I first came to Rolla, but I feel very blessed with how everything has turned out,” he says. “The citizens of Rolla have placed their trust in me, and I intend to lead in a way that helps the city grow while building on our connections with Missouri S&T and preserving our strong sense of community.”
Florence says his path to S&T can be traced back to a realization he had around age 12.
“I remember being in sixth grade, spending time with my family, and announcing I wanted to be an engineer,” says the Charleston, Missouri, native. “I didn’t really know what that meant at the time, but I knew it was what I wanted to do. Then, when I finished high school, Missouri S&T stood out as the best school for me to attend for engineering.”
That pre-teen epiphany led to Florence enrolling at S&T and earning his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering nine years later.
“I didn’t have a traditional timeline for earning my bachelor’s degree,” he says. “Partway through my degree, I faced challenging circumstances with my family, and my grades dropped. I was dismissed from the program, and I understood why, but I still really wanted to finish my education.”
Florence, who can now be called “Mr. Mayor” in the City of Rolla, says a man known throughout the community as “Mr. Miner” helped get him back on track.
That man was Jerry Bayless, who earned his nickname through his passion for the university and its students during his 58-year career as an S&T faculty member, administrator and all-around supporter of everything happening on the S&T campus.
“My educational story is really about resilience and about someone giving you a second chance, and it wouldn’t have been possible without Jerry Bayless,” Florence says. “He always believed in me and allowed me to re-enroll at S&T.”
Florence also credits his development as a leader and scholar to his involvement with S&T’s Epsilon Psi chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, where he now serves as a residential advisor. He also points to the influence of the chapter’s founding advisor, Lawrence George, who mentored generations of S&T students.
“The fraternity saw leadership qualities in me before I fully saw them in myself,” he says. “My fraternity brothers and mentors supported me not only mentally and spiritually, but also financially, even as I made the decision to run for mayor.
“They have always modeled what it means to be both a scholar and a servant leader, and their mentorship has guided me for decades and continues to influence how I lead today.”
While completing his degree, Florence interned with the United States Geological Survey (USGS). After graduating, he began his career with the federal agency in a civil engineering role before shifting to a different position eight years later.
“As I looked ahead in civil engineering roles with USGS, I saw that advancing would require me to travel to Washington, D.C.,” he says. “As a father and someone rooted in this community, that was not the direction I wanted. Then, I learned a programming role could be an option, and I thought I could use my problem-solving skills as an engineer and that it would be a good fit.”
That decision led Florence back to Missouri S&T. With support from USGS, he earned a master’s degree in information science and technology in 2006 and completed a second bachelor’s degree in computer science in 2007.
Now in his final days as an IT specialist with USGS, Florence is preparing to retire from his professional career so he can focus more on his service as mayor and supporting other organizations and causes he finds important.
Florence’s service with the City of Rolla began in 2020 when he was elected to the City Council. He served as mayor pro tem from 2022 to 2024, and he was sworn in as Rolla’s new mayor on April 20 this year.
A member of Greentree Christian Church in Rolla, Florence is also involved with the Rolla Camp of Gideons International, the Missouri S&T Board of Trustees and the Rolla Optimist Club, where he serves as president.
He and his wife, Tuesday, also own and operate Divine Care Solutions, a commercial janitorial business, and Ourrecovery2, which is focused on counseling services.
In all his roles, Florence says he has worked to bring people together and build stronger relationships, including between Missouri S&T and the City of Rolla.
“Missouri S&T and Rolla really go hand in hand,” he says. “The university brings talent, ideas and opportunities, and that benefits the entire community. When one succeeds, the other does, too.”
He says his commitment to service and community is something he has also tried to pass on to his family.
Florence’s wife, Tuesday, recently completed a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling, while his daughter, Ebony, is a retired member of the U.S. Air Force, and son, Caleb, serves in the U.S. Army.
“Serving others has always been important to me, and I will carry that mindset with me as the mayor of Rolla,” he says. “It is about listening, understanding different perspectives and working together to find the best way forward for the entire community.”
Photo: Lister Florence was sworn in as Rolla’s new mayor on April 20. Photo by Michael Pierce/Missouri S&T
