 Joplin Mayor Jon Tupper presents the key to the city to Rob O'Brian, president of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce. Standing by, having just been presented a key, is Dr. Charles Bentlage, who received his first key to the city in 1995.
A group of citizens including several city of Joplin employees gathered in the lobby of city hall on September 20, 2007, to pay tribute to two Joplin community leaders who were chosen to be included in the dozen recipients who will receive the 2007 Missourian Award.
The award is the brainchild of Springfield's Ralph Slavens who with his late wife Corrina decided 14 years ago to honor those Missourians who have made an outstanding contribution to Missouri or the nation in civics, business, the arts, or in politics but with a caveat. Recipients must have spent at least 15 years in the state; political figures must have been out of office for at least two years. Slavens himself, now 75, is well known in the business world having been a commercial loan broker for 48 years. He currently serves on Springfield's Industrial Development Board.
A rotating committee of five--two from St. Louis, two from Kansas city and one from Springfield-- who, according to Slavens, have decided to remain anonymous so as not to be badgered, make the selections from nominees presented to them. Rob O'Brian, president of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce was nominated by someone within his organization for the outstanding work he has done to foster economic development within the community, including the need for a well trained work force. A vice president of Cox Health Systems in Springfield nominated Dr. Charles Bentlage for his contributions to not only the medical field but also to several volunteer groups that improve the lives of many in need.
"Chester" was the first to receive the award in Joplin, Slavens said. "You know 'Chester,' don't you?, Slavens asked, referring to Dennis Weaver, humanitarian and pioneer environmentalist, who passed away early in 2006.
Slavens makes sure the listener is impressed by the list of notables having received the award. Some were nominated while alive, some posthumously. He admits to having nominated some of them himself, like Harry Truman whom he says is his favorite of past and present US presidents, and Walt Disney, who, many may not know, grew up in a small town near Kansas city. Others include Samuel Langhorne Clemons (Mark Twain) whose literary works are unforgettable; Harold Bell Wright, the well-known pastor and author of Shepherd of the Hills; and two famous generals, Omar Nelson Bradley from Clark, MO and John J. Pershing who was born on a farm near Laclede.
Fiercely proud of his role as chairman of the Missouri Award,--which is not to be confused with a government award of the same name--Slavens said he had lost control of it when he wife battled breast cancer. At the time the award became a "political football," something he finds totally distasteful. He said he was forced to remind the committee, since only he has the rights to the award, that it continue to be administered according to his guidelines.
"Politicians want to steal our thunder," Slavens said. But the event, he vehemently stressed, does not allow political speakers. The ceremony includes the master of ceremonies, who this year will be W. Michael Ross, president and CEO of Regents Bank, a subsidiary of Regions Financial Corp, a Fortune 500 company. And, Slavens says, he personally confers the awards.
Since the inception of the award approved by former governor, the late Mel Carnahan in 1993, more than 125 people have been bestowed a medallion. The ceremony that in the past has been held in Branson and Springfield will take place on September 29, 2007, at a $100 a plate dinner at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City with net profits to benefit the American Heart Association. Go Back |
