Recognizing this year's Spirit of America nominees

Jim Bollinger accepted this year's Spirit of America Award at the Cape Girardeau Fourth of July celebration.

In the last 45 years, he has been assistant fire chief, fire chief, Bollinger County emergency management director, deputy coroner, reserve sheriff's officer and member of the Firefighters Association of Missouri, National Aviation Museum Foundation and Navy Tailhook Association, just to name some of his involvement, all of it unpaid. Before that he was an Eagle Scout, U.S. Navy Flight Officer and naval legal officer.

Here are this year's submitted nominations:

* Kevin Greaser is the former board president and current board member of the United Way of Southeast Missouri. He serves on a variety of boards, such as the Chamber of Commerce Community Development Committee, Salvation Army, Cape Area Habitat for Humanity and Cape Girardeau Public Library. He has volunteered with the American Red Cross, American Cancer Society, March of Dimes and Safe House for Women.

* Roy "Buddy" Walls served in the Air Force and volunteered for a tour in Vietnam in 1970-1971, during which time he was named Gun Fighter of the Month. He is past president of the Shawnee College Foundation Board, former Pulaski County Commissioner, chaplain of American Legion, commander of Sons of the American Legion and chaplain on the Area Ritual Team. On average, he attends 60 funerals a year for fallen heroes. He is pastor of Mound City Baptist Church and serves on the Mound City National Cemetery Preservation Commission.

* Dortha Strack has been a 4-H volunteer for 54 years, is the Young Americans 4-H club leader and sits on the SEMO District Fair board. She has been named to the 4-H Hall of Fame. Under her leadership, her club writes letters to troops, goes caroling at the Missouri Veterans Home and sets up and takes down flags for holidays. She also has been involved with the Kage FCE group for 60 years, serving as chairwoman of the scholarship committee and raising funds for Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship, among other activities.

* Frank Nickell was nominated by the Cape River Heritage Museum board of directors, who called him "the voice of history in our region." Nickell taught at Southeast Missouri State University for 40 years. In 1992, he was honored with a Governor's Award for Excellence in teaching. In 2005, he was named an Outstanding Missourian by the Missouri House of Representatives, and in 2009, he received the Provost's Research Instruction and Development for Excellence Award.

* Steven Bjelich, CEO of Saint Francis Medical Center, has been the leader in the medical center's success. The hospital has been named a Best Place to Work by Modern Healthcare magazine six times, and provides charity care and outreach efforts totaling $98.7 million in 2015. He is a member of the Cape Girardeau Rotary Club, has served on the United Way of Southeast Missouri campaign committee and was given the Visionary Leader Award by the Missouri Hosptial Association in 2010.

* Frank Robinson, president of Robinson Construction, was nominated by the Perry County Community Foundation for his "quiet ways of impacting the world for the better." Robinson supports a number of local organizations, inlcuding the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, Boys & Girls Clubs, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, SEMO Food Bank and Melaina's Magical Playland.

* T. Wayne Lewis, a dentist, was nominated by the Pleasant family of Jackson. He helped restore Joel Pleasant's smile several years ago after his front tooth was chipped. Joel's mother, Ella Pleasant, who was unable to afford the extra expense, was astonished when Lewis did the work pro bono. Lewis is a member of the Jackson School Board.

* Nancy Caldwell was president of the Southeast Missouri District Physical Education in 1977 and 1978 and was president and secretary many years. She was secretary of the Scott City School Board 12 years. She delivers Meals on Wheels, organized the Red Cross' Learn to Swim program, participated in the Overseas Coupon program five years, organizes an annual essay contest for Voice of Democracy and Patriot's Pen and helps raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

* Wayne Wallingford, state senator and former state representative, was nominated by Scott Roth and Tom Wilmas. The U.S. Air Force veteran served five tours in Vietnam, six tours in Desert storm, and receieved the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, 21 Air Medals and the Air Force Commendation for Heroism. Wallingford does public speaking in leadership and motivation and mentors young adults and at-risk teens. He has been involved with the United Way of Southeast Missouri, Habitat for Humanity, SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence, Boys and Girls Club, Community Counseling Center Foundation and other organizations. (Sen. Wallingford is not eligible to win as a current legislator.)

* Rick Hetzel, the former Cape Girardeau chief of police, was nominated for his work toward making Cape safe and with the Cape Girardeau Rotary Club. In Rotary, his leadership in projects and events "centered on the result and the good work -- not on personal gain ...," the nomination read.

* Carla Jordan has been involved with the development of historic sites and museums in several states. She is a member of the Cape Girardeau Historical Society, Uptown Jackson Revitalization Organization, Perry County Lutheran Historical Society and WESTRAY Foundation. She has won the Arthur Mattingly Award for Outstanding Achievement in Historic Preservation and lifetime membership awards at Cat Ranch Art Guild, Baxter Springs (Kansas) Historical Society and Historic Kansas Route 66 Association. She is the director of the Lutheran Heritage Center and Museum in Altenburg and the Cape Girardeau County Historical Center in Jackson.

* Kelley McGowan volunteers with the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri, socializing, bathing, training and otherwise spending time with the animals. She also serves on committees, helps with events and fundraisers, works at the emergency animal shelter and fosters pets.

* Dianna Valleroy, a sixth-grade teacher, is a member of VFW Post 2210 Auxiliary in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, Kiwanis/KKids (a service organization through Central Middle School) and Mission Possible. She conducts science programs at the public library, organizes community service projects for her classes and holds fundraisers to cover the cost of care packages for military stationed overseas.

While we can only present one Spirit of America Award each year, we think all these nominees deserve to be recognized. They all truly embody the American spirit.