CHAMBER HONORS BUSINESSMAN; FULENWIDER AWARD GIVEN TO BRUENING

JACKSON -- A retired Jackson businessman is the 1992 recipient of the R. A. Fulenwider Meritorious Community Service Award.

Paul Henry Bruening, 83, was cited for his involvement in business, civic, church and community affairs during the Jackson Chamber of Commerce 1992-93 Installation Banquet.

Leonard Sander, the 1991 recipient of last year's Fulenwider award and father of out-going chamber president Paul Sander, presented Bruening with this year's civic service award.

Paul Sander said after the presentation that Bruening embodies the objective of the award.

"The Fulenwider award was created about 12 years ago," he said. "It is named for the late R. A. Fulenwider, a longtime civic and chamber leader in Jackson.

"The award is given by the chamber each year to the person the nominating committee feels has rendered the most outstanding service to the community of Jackson as a whole."

Bruening attended St. Paul Lutheran School and graduated in 1929 as Jackson High School's salutatorian.

He worked at the Bruening and Kerstner dry goods store after graduating from high school, and in 1931 went into partnership with his father, William Bruening, to form the Bruening Co.

Bruening retired from the Jackson Municipal Band in 1987 after serving for more than 64 years. In 1923, he was a charter member of the band, and in 1976 Bruening and other band members joined the city council to build the band shell in the city park.

Bruening also served as president of the Jackson Library Board in the late 1950s and early 1960s and was instrumental in the construction of the present library and City Hall building, dedicated in 1961.

Bruening was an active member of the Chamber of Commerce, where he was on the executive board and served as president from 1956-59. He also was a member of the Jackson Rotary Club, where he served on various committees.

Bruening is an active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, where he has served as president, secretary, elder, superintendent of Sunday School, and chairman of the Board of Christian Education. He taught Sunday school for more than 30 years and was a member of the church choir for more than 60 years.

From 1957-60, Bruening served as the chairman of a program to plan for the new church building, and subsequently served as the general chairman of the fund drive for the church, which was dedicated in 1963.

The chamber's 1992-93 officers installed Monday include: president, Steve Popp, manager of Lee Avenue Warehouse; vice president, Jim Maevers, owner/manager of Main Street Fitness; and secretary-treasurer, Steve Elefson, local representative for Edward D. Jones & Co.

The new chamber board members are Jeff Moore, Kent Puchbauer, Larry Hall, Kevin Sawyer, Ted Williams, Jim Tyler, Judy Sander and Paul Sander.

Also at Monday's meeting, Mysie Keene, who retired this year after serving 10 years on the Jackson Industrial Development Company board of directors, was presented an award for her service to the chamber board.