JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Gov. Mike Parson asked David Steelman to resign from the University of Missouri Board of Curators last week after allowing Steelman to stay on the board more than two years after the expiration of his term. 

In a letter addressed to Steelman on April 14, Parson thanked him for his service beyond his appointed term and asked for his resignation letter.

“Please submit a resignation letter with an effective date of no later than April 30, 2021, from your expired term on the Board of Curators pursuant to your January 9, 2020, offer,” the letter read. 

The offer Parson referenced was the product of a meeting between Steelman and Parson in January of last year. In that meeting, Steelman offered to remain on the board past his expired term, receive a re-appointment, or depart from the Board of Curators at a time of Parson’s choosing. 

However, neither the spokesperson for the Governor’s office nor the spokesperson for the University of Missouri could confirm that Steelman has definitive plans to honor his previous offer and resign by April 30.

On the evening of April 6, a filibuster carrying into the early morning hours delayed the eventual confirmation of the 6th congressional district nominee to the board, Republican Todd Graves. During the filibuster, several people involved in the confirmation process told The Heartlander that Steelman worked late into the night attempting to make deals in order to remain on the board.

Steelman was not immediately available for comment by the time of publishing.

Pending Steelman’s resignation, Parson has tapped businessman Keith Holloway as the 8th congressional nominee to the board. Holloway’s committee hearing was Wednesday, but it is unclear if the senate will vote on his confirmation before the end of session.