Don Greenwood known for his art, music and support of downtown Cape

Don Greenwood poses on Main Street on Jan. 21, 2014, in downtown Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

Local artist and musician Don Greenwood says he came to reside in Cape Girardeau quite by accident.

"I'm originally from New Orleans and my family moved around quite a bit," he says.

He attended junior college in Kansas City, Mo., before going to work for the Hallmark Co. there. In October 1966, Greenwood moved to Cape Girardeau to take a job with American Greetings, which had opened an office here.

"I fell in love with the people and the area and never left," he says.

He spent the next 45 years as an engraver, using embossing dyes on everything from greeting cards to annual reports to packaging for films and games for Microsoft. He eventually opened Graphic Engraving and later went to work for Cape Art & Dye.

"I've always done commercial artwork," he says.

Greenwood, who turns 70 this year, has retired from the engraving business but still finds many ways to stay busy.

"For the past 20 years, I've played conga drums with Bruce Zimmerman and the Water Street Blues Band at Port Cape," he says.

Then, after retirement, he decided to tackle a new instrument and skill.

"When I retired at 65, I learned to play guitar and I started writing songs," he says.

To date, he estimates that he has penned around 45 original songs.

"I perform them [here locally] in places like Port Cape, Cup 'n' Cork, and The Cat Ranch in Marble Hill," he says.

He and his wife, Roseanna Whitlow-Greenwood, have also been longtime supporters of downtown Cape Girardeau, where Greenwood currently serves on the board of Old Town Cape.

"When [we] moved downtown 35 years ago, occupancy of commercial buildings on Spanish, Main and Broadway was at about 15 percent," says Greenwood.

Both of them got involved in the Downtown Merchant's Association, where Don has served as a past president and Roseanna has served as a past secretary.

Greenwood is happy to see the resurgence in the downtown area.

"It's great to see it slowly coming back," he says.

In addition to his involvement with art, music and preserving downtown Cape Girardeau, Greenwood is an avid kayaker.

"We have a group of about a dozen people and we try to go about once or twice a week in the spring, summer and fall," he says.

The group kayaks on the Mississippi River as well as in smaller rivers and lakes in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois.

In January, Greenwood was the recipient of the Otto F. Dingeldein Award. The award, given annually by the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri since 1975, recognizes those who have made significant contributions to the local art community.

"Otto started the [SEMO] Arts Council," says Greenwood. "He was the last of a long line of silversmiths and goldsmiths in his family."

Don and Roseanna have only been married since 2012, although Greenwood laughingly says they were engaged "for about 34 years."

"We didn't want to rush things," he jokes. "I wanted to make sure she was ready!"

Whitlow-Greenwood teaches communication studies at Southeast Missouri State University, where she holds a Ph.D. in speech and drama. She also serves on the board of directors of the River City Players.

Greenwood has five adult children from a previous marriage, and 10 grandchildren. He is also the oldest of 12 children.

"All seven of my sisters still live in the New Orleans area," says Greenwood. "Me and my brothers are all scattered [throughout the United States]."

On staying so involved and active at nearly 70, Greenwood says, "I've always found what I do enjoyable. I just comes natural."