CAPE, SIKESTON MEN WIN MISSOURI JAYCEES AWARDS

Robert Neff of Cape Girardeau has been selected by the Missouri Jaycees as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Missourians for 1992.

Also named to this list is Alan D. Keenan of Sikeston.

The 10 awards were presented Saturday at a ceremony at Tan-Tar-A Lodge on the Lake of the Ozarks.

As the managing partner of Ford Groves in Cape Girardeau, he has led his business as it expanded into a new, $3 million facility. At Ford Groves, Neff has received many achievement awards, including those for sales leadership, service leadership and the Quality Customer Satisfaction award from Ford Motor Co.

Under Neff's leadership as chairman of the annual Cape Girardeau area Salvation Army's Tree of Lights campaign, the Army was able to surpass all of its previous contribution records.

Neff is a graduate of St. Mary's High School in south St. Louis. He has a bachelor's degree in marketing from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. After graduation, he went to work for Electro Battery Co. He was given a sales territory that had the lowest sales volume in the company. In one year he turned that territory into the highest volume of all the company's 17 territories.

Neff has been recognized for his community service by the Kiwanis Club, Cape Girardeau Jaycees, Boy Scouts of America, Southeast Missouri State University, the Salvation Army, the American Cancer Society, Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce, Scott County Central High School, Blazers Soccer Club, St. Vincent's Church and the American Red Cross.

He serves on the Board of Directors of the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Advisers of the Salvation Army and the Board of Directors of the Southeast Missouri Hospital Foundation.

He has served on committees involving the Cape Girardeau Riverfest. He is active in St. Vincent Catholic Church and is a member of the Cape Girardeau Lions Club and the Cape Girardeau Jaycees, where he plays Santa Claus for its annual Toybox project.

Neff and his wife, Bari, have two children, Mattie, 4, and Kelsie, 2.

Keenan and his father founded Alan Wire Co., where he has served as the general manager since 1975. He has been a leader in designing equipment and processes used to manufacture insulated copper wire. Alan Wire has grown from its small beginnings of only two to three employees to a nationally known company marketing electrical wire and cable products in 40 states.

Keenan has been active in the Sikeston Jaycees and the Sikeston Jaycee Rodeo. He is active in Little League baseball, soccer and football and the Sikeston Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the Sikeston First United Methodist Church, Sigma Nu fraternity, and has served as president of the Sikeston Industrial Club. Keenan and his wife, Debbie, have two children: Jonathon, 9, and Scott, 6.

Other recipients of the award are Andrew Baker and Cristal Bruner, both of Mexico; Bryan Busby, Independence; Richard Dorsey III, Florissant; Alan Eckert, Affton; Connie Sue Morgan, Columbia; Mary Beth Niedergerke, St. Charles; and James Norris, Gladstone.

The Ten Outstanding Young Missourian awards are sponsored annually by the Missouri Public Service Co. and the Missouri Jaycees.