Dexter, MO - The Dexter Chamber of Commerce held their 2020 Awards Banquet at The Gathering on Saturday, February 8th. On hand were Senator Doug Libla and 151st State Representative Herman Morse to present resolutions from the MO House and MO Senate.
The last of award of the evening will be a new award, The John William Ringer Life Time Achievement Award and it went to John William Ringer as the first recipient!
On hand to present the award was Aaron Mathis, President of the Regional Healthcare Foundation.
John William Ringer began his law practice, September 6, 1960, practicing under Clarence Powell and Marvin Jones. In his own words, "he was immediately thrown into something they didn't teach at the University of Missouri - Columbia law school, how to be a hospital lawyer".
A group of citizens tasked the young attorney to identify the steps necessary to eventually establish a hospital in a rural farm town. As it with anything in life, the number one ingredient is...money. You can't take donation without having a 501 c3 to ensure donors, their donations are tax deductible. And with that, the Dexter Memorial Hospital was incorporated in the late months of 1964. At that time, the IRS said you had to be in operation for two years to request such a classification, given the nature of the project, John William was able to request and ultimately receive a waiver on that condition.
Once the capitol was raised, through donations, and the selling of bonds, ti was time to start planning the physical building. Dexter was in the same district as Poplar bluff meaning the certificate of need (meaning an allotment of beds) was already met, with all of those beds being in Poplar Bluff. Yewell
Yewell Lawrence (Bud Lawrence's father) had political connections in Jefferson City and was able to get the boundaries re-drawn. and ultimately a certificate of need was given to the Dexter area.
Ringer went on to serve as legal counsel to the Dexter Memorial Hospital Board. He was also responsible for contracts of the physicians and nurse practitioners. Ringer served on the hospital board for 40 years and served as president for 25 years. Ringer retired from the board, now known as the Regional Healthcare Foundation in 2019.
Pictured presenting the award in back from left: Morse, Trammell, President of the Regional Healthcare Foundation Aaron Mathis and Libla. In front is John W. Ringer.
Dexter, MO - The Dexter Chamber of Commerce held their 2020 Awards Banquet at The Gathering on Saturday, February 8th. On hand were Senator Doug Libla and 151st State Representative Herman Morse to present resolutions from the MO House and MO Senate.
The Educator of the Year recipient was Peggy Pots. She is a Southwest Elementary speech and language therapist.
On hand to present the award was Katrina Prance.
This teacher has been described as hard-working, loving, and dedicated. She continually goes above and beyond for not only her students, but the taff as well.
She is known to decorate the halls and teacher facilities with inspirational quotes, prayers, and hilarious memes. This educator works primarily in Southwest Elementary where she encourages sounds, words, and sentences. For some students she has shaped clearer speech, and for others she has developed communication systems that works best for each individual student.
She is active in Communities Loving and Supporting Students and has initiated Southwest Clothes Closet where teachers or students can select new and gently used clothing for those in need. not only does she give 100% at school, but she also owns and operates Dexter Tumble and Cheer. She often uses her gym to host events for community organizations, such as The Boone Park Project and Relay for Life.
Students instantly light up when she enters the classroom and drop what they are doing in hopes to be the lucky chosen one who gets to play in her "Magical wonderland that is her) speech classroom.
Dexter, MO - The Dexter Chamber of Commerce held their 2020 Awards Banquet at The Gathering on Saturday, February 8th. On hand were Senator Doug Libla and 151st State Representative Herman Morse to present resolutions from the MO House and MO Senate.
The Industry of the Year recipient was Jim Gibson Trucking, LLC.
On hand to present the award was Haley Cecil.
The recipient for Industry of the Year has been in business for over 70 years. They span over three generations and when they first originated they were just a lime business that crushed their own lime. Since then they have expanded their services to a 15-truck fleet with 15 employees and they haul a multitude of materials including lime, sand, rock, fertilizer, asphalt, hazardous materials, farm crops and much more.
Their focus is loading fracking sand on river barges.
This company has been a staple for Dexter and the surrounding communities.
The owner of this business currently sits on the University of Missouri Agricultural of Lime Council and they continue to be involved in and support our local Dexter Future Farmers of America Chapter.
Dexter, MO - The Dexter Chamber of Commerce held their 2020 Awards Banquet at The Gathering on Saturday, February 8th. On hand were Senator Doug Libla and 151st State Representative Herman Morse to present resolutions from the MO House and MO Senate.
The Business of the Year went to FM Bank of Dexter.
On hand to present the Business of the Year was Dustin Mayer.
This year's recipient for Business of the Year holds a strong presence in the Dexter community. One of their core standards is their belief that their employees are treated like family.
They have made it their mission to support numerous organizations and charities within our community. They have done this by giving monetarily and volunteering with the Dexter Kiwanis Club, Communities Loving and Supporting Students, Backpacks for Friday, Dexter Bearcat Booster Club, 18ForeLife, Shop with a Hero, UCAN, Realty for Life, Dexter Animal Shelter, the Dexter Dog Park, and many others. One of their more notable donations was providing T.S. Hill Middle School students with tablets and a charging station, totalling an expense of voer $8,000. They pride
They pride themselves in being community focused and creating personal relationships with their customers.
Dexter, MO - The Dexter Chamber of Commerce held their 2020 Awards Banquet at The Gathering on Saturday, February 8th. The Organization of the Year went to C.L.A.S.S. - Communities Loving and Supporting Students. On hand were Senator Doug Libla and 151st State Representative Herman Morse to present resolutions from the MO House and MO Senate.
Presenting the Organization of the Year Awards was Matt Ternes.
This organization has over 50 volunteers and has done in such a short time speaks volumes as to the magnitude they have played in our community The central goal of this organization is to provide a level playing field for students , so they can focus more on their education and less on their clothing.
In 2019 this organization and its volunteers were able to provide 104 students each with three complete outfits, socks, underclothing, pajamas, tennis shoes, and a winter coat. They currently serve Richland, Bernie, and Dexter school districts and work closely with school counselors teachers, and administrators. It is evident how much heart and dedication this organization has to the betterment of our students and their education.
