ST. LOUIS (AP) - Missouri gubernatorial candidate Dave Spence touts on his website that he "earned a degree in Economics" from the University of Missouri-Columbia. What his website doesn't say is that the degree was in home economics.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch (http://bit.ly/wc4L3d) reported in an online story Tuesday that the university says Spence majored in family economics and management - also called consumer economics - and received a bachelor's of science degree in home economics in 1981.
Spence acknowledged that the description of his degree on the campaign's website may be misleading. He said that his grades weren't good enough for the business school, so he chose a different academic path that allowed him to graduate on time.
"I was not the greatest student in the world," Spence said. "I'll make fun of myself: I was a 60-watt bulb in a 100-watt society."
Spence has emphasized his business expertise while campaigning for the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon in this year's election.
A few years after college, Spence purchased Alpha Packaging and built the small company into a sizeable business that produces more than 1 billion plastic containers a week. He sold the company in 2010 and recently stepping aside as its leader.
Spence also has helped create an "entrepreneurship alliance" that offers University of Missouri business students the chance to interact with actual executives.
"I had a great time in school," Spence told the Post-Dispatch. "But I think my record out of school speaks for itself."
Online:
Spence campaign website: http://www.spenceforgovernor.com
Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, http://www.stltoday.com