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Nov. 17, 2011
For immediate release
For more information, contact:
Bonnie J. Prigge, (573) 265-2993
James Coffman receives MRPC’S highest volunteer award
Additional 12 volunteers, including three youth, and one organization honored
Those volunteers honored by MRPC during its 2011 Annual Dinner included back row from left, James Coffman of Salem, James Decker of Bland, Jacob Kettner of Salem, Nick Barrack of Rolla and Matt Bramel of Doolittle. Front row from left are Debby Bust, representing the Washington County Community Partnership, Patsy Luebbert of Westphalia, Bernard and Jan Wenzel of Meta, Lauren Wieberg of Vienna and Jay Copeland of Owensville. Not pictured: Larry Salveter of Crocker, Anne Springer of Bourbon and Richard Huse of Belle.
James Coffman of Salem was honored and surprised with the Meramec Regional Planning Commission’s highest volunteer award—the Eugene E. Northern award—during its 2011 Annual Dinner, held Nov. 10, 2011, at the Knights of Columbus’ Visitation Hall in Vienna.
Each year, MRPC honors residents from Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties who have exhibited outstanding voluntarism and community service. MRPC also presents its highest honor, its annual Eugene E. Northern Award, to a volunteer who has demonstrated lifelong community service. Northern, a former Rolla mayor, was a Missouri Circuit judge that was dedicated to his community and went beyond the call of duty.
“Mr. Coffman is an added asset to the city and was instrumental in getting the Telecommunications Resource Center into Salem. The city was able to purchase that building because of him, and we are so thankful for that,” said MRPC Vice Chairman and Mayor of Salem Gary Brown in making the announcement.
Coffman is a life-long resident of Salem in Dent County and has faithfully served on countless boards and committees including: The Salem Area Community Betterment Association Board; the Salem Rotary Club; the Salem Masonic Lodge; the Salem Housing Authority Board; the Dent County Disabilities Board; the Bank of Salem Board of Directors; the Dent County Industrial Development Authority; the Salem Industrial Development Corporation Board; and the City of Salem Finance Committee.
Coffman also volunteers at the Dent County Museum. The museum, which preserves the history of Salem and Dent County, houses furniture, photos, documents and more. Coffman has served the last 30 years by volunteering his time and by helping organize the museum’s historical items. He also serves as an owner of Roberts-Judson Lumber Company in Salem. He began working at the company in 1962 and his family has been a part of the company since 1914.
Coffman and his wife, Mary, have three daughters, Elizabeth, Carrie and Molly.
“The volunteers are what makes a community stand out,” Brown continued. “I’m very thankful we are able to recognize them.”
Dent County Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles nominated Coffman for the award. The recipient of the award remains confidential until the announcement at the Annual Dinner.
Others honored included:
• Larry Salveter of Crocker, nominated by James Morgan, mayor of Crocker;
• Anne Springer of Bourbon, nominated by Mary Heywood, MRPC treasurer;
• Nick Barrack of Rolla, nominated by Laura Antolak, MRPC board member;
• Bernard and Jan Wenzel of Meta, nominated by Ray Schwartze, Maries County presiding commissioner;
• Matt Bramel of Doolittle, nominated by Paul Smith, mayor of Doolittle;
• Richard Huse of Belle, nominated by Tony Gieck, mayor of Belle;
• James Decker of Bland, nominated by Ron Jost, Gasconade County presiding commissioner;
• Patsy Luebbert of Westphalia, nominated by Russell Scheulen, MRPC chairman;
• Washington County Community Partnership of Potosi, nominated by T.R. Dudley, mayor of Potosi;
• Lauren Wieberg, a Vienna youth, nominated by the Maries County Commission;
• Jay Copeland, an Owensville youth, nominated by Dixon Somerville, mayor of Owensville; and
• Jacob Kettner, a Salem youth, nominated by Donald Dodd, MRPC at-large representative for transportation.
Five MRPC staff members were honored with years of service awards: Jodie Branson of Owensville, accountant, and Maria Kardon of Rolla, business loan specialist/community development specialist, were each recognized for five years of service. Nongluk Tunyavanich, environmental programs specialist, of Rolla, was honored for 10 years of service; Bonnie Prigge, executive director, of Vichy, was honored for 20 years of service; and Teresa Murdie, housing inspector/coordinator for the Phelps County PHA, of Vichy, was honored for 30 years of service.
Elaine Cloyde of Vienna, housing coordinator for the Phelps County PHA, was honored as Employee of the Year for 2011, a selection made by MRPC staff. Cloyde helps residents of the region obtain safe and affordable housing and works with 217 families. She is responsible for all applications for housing. Cloyde also volunteers on the MRPC Technology Team Committee and on the MRPC Social Committee.
Meramec Regional Development Corp., the loan board that works in partnership with MRPC, presented its Lender of the Year award for the second year in a row to First Community National Bank Rolla-North Branch. MRDC Chairman Tom Klebba presented the award to Alan Vickers and Adam Housewright of First Community National Bank
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Some 170 people attended the dinner, which was hosted by Maries County, the City of Vienna and Vienna Knights of Columbus. Maries County Bank and branches sponsored the reception, which featured entertainment by Harold Rowden and Friends, Maries County bluegrass musicians. Several area cities, businesses and board members donated items for the silent auction, which was held during the reception.
MRPC Chairman Russell Scheulen of Osage County served as master of ceremonies and was assisted by MRPC Vice Chairman Gary Brown, mayor of Salem.
MRPC, formed in 1969, is a voluntary council of local governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities. A professional staff, directed by the MRPC board, offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, transportation planning, housing assistance, environmental planning, ordinance codification, business loans, strategic planning and other services to member communities upon request.
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