Kemper Military School

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Kemper Military School was a private military academy located in Boonville, Missouri, in the United States. It was founded in 1844 by Fredrick T. Kemper as an all boys military academy. At this institution young adults were taught discipline, organization and leadership skills.

In its varied history Kemper Military School has been a source of guidance and education for many famous personalities, including Will Rogers. This institution molded wayward young adults and young adults with military career aspirations into successful and law-abiding citizens for nearly two centuries.

The school's crest included "Nunquam Non Paratus" (Never Not Prepared).

Most of the grounds were constructed in the middle to late 1800s. For that reason the campus has been used as scenery or even the location of several films. The motion pictures Combat Academy (a low quality take-off of Police Academy) and Child's Play 3 were filmed at this school with cadets and instructors serving as extras. The school depicted in Child's Play 3 was modeled after Kemper itself.

Kemper Military School closed its doors in 2002 due to a combination of factors, including poor financial management. The Kemper facilities are currently owned by the city of Boonville and some of its facilities are leased by the YMCA.

In 2005 a group associated with the Utah-based World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools made an offer to buy the campus to open a new school for adolescents needing help with discipline, responsibility and leadership skills. The Boonville City Council rejected the proposal (Amy Joi Bryson, Utah-based group under fire, Deseret Morning News, April 21, 2005).