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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES & EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
December 8, 1997
GREAT SOUTHERN BANCORP, INC.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 0-18082 43-1524856
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(State or other (Commission File No.) (IRS Employer)
jurisdiction of
incorporation)
1451 E. Battlefield, Springfield, Missouri 65804
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code
(417) 887-4400
N/A
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last
report)
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Item 5. Other Events
On December 8, 1997, Great Southern Travel, a 100%
owned subsidiary of the Registrant, issued the attached
press release announcing the acquisition of a travel agency
located in Joplin, Missouri. The acquisition will not have
a material impact on the asset size, capital or earnings of
the Registrant.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(c) Exhibits
20.1 Press release dated December 8, 1997.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to
be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly
authorized.
GREAT SOUTHERN BANCORP, INC.
Date: December 8, 1997 /s/ Don M. Gibson
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Don M. Gibson
Executive Vice President
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Exhibit 20.1
FOR MORE INFORMATION FOR IMMEDIATE
R. MARK NORTON RELEASE: 12/8/97
AT (417)888-4488
GREAT SOUTHERN TRAVEL
COMPLETES ACQUISITION --
ADVANCING AGENCY INTO TOP 5% NATIONWIDE
Great Southern Travel, the largest travel agency in outstate
Missouri, today announced the acquisition of International
Tours and Cruises of Joplin. The addition of International
Tours' sales volume will put Great Southern Travel in the
top 5% of all U.S. Travel Agencies.
William V. Turner will remain President of Great Southern
Travel. R. Mark Norton, who is the General Manager of
International Tours in Joplin, has been named Executive Vice
President and Managing Director. Ann Turner will be Vice
President of Marketing and Business Development.
Turner stated, "We are excited about the opportunities this
this acquisition brings. We believe the combined agency has
excellent potential in a continually changing industry and
Mark has the knowledge, expertise, and drive to obtain
results.
Great Southern Travel, which is a subsidiary of Great
Southern Bancorp, Inc., is a full service travel agency
providing corporate, leisure and receptive tour services.
The agency was founded in 1977 and has 100 employees and 20
offices throughout Southern Missouri and Northern Arkansas.
International Tours adds five additional locations to Great
Southern Travel, three of which are in-house corporate sites
including Joplin and Carthage, Missouri, as well as,
Pittsburg and Chanute, Kansas.
Norton stated, "This acquisition will have significant
advantages for Great Southern Travel and both agencies'
customers. First and foremost, the agency will continue to
be one, of the few remaining, which does not charge a fee
for travel services. International Tours' customers will
now have an additional Joplin location, longer hours [6 am -
10 pm GST hours of operation], and additional services at
Springfield Regional Airport through Great Southern Travel's
airport agency there."
