CONCORD PUBLISHING IS HONORED FOR ~COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE'

A Cape Girardeau business that has been providing news, printing and other services to the community for more than a quarter-century had its turn in the headlines Thursday night.

Concord Publishing House, Inc., headquartered in Cape Girardeau, was recognized as the industry of the year at the annual Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce Industrial Appreciation Dinner.

The dinner was held at the Show Me Center on Southeast Missouri State University campus. About 850 people attended.

Concord President Gary Rust listened to chamber board chairman John E. Mehner describe the 1992 "Commitment to Excellence" winner before he was called from the audience to accept the trophy from Bob Hendrix, chamber president.

"This year's winner is a family-owned operation which impacts not only Cape Girardeau, but the entire region," said Mehner before announcing the winner by name. "It grew from the vision of one man over 25 years ago a man who at the time had little money, no job, a wife and five kids ... and another child on the way."

Mehner traced the quarter-century history of Concord Publishing.

"In 1967, this man purchased the Southeast Missouri Weekly Bulletin publication," said Mehner. "With three people and 1,500 circulation, the dream started."

Today, the multi-faceted company employs over 300 men and women full time in Southeast Missouri, with an annual payroll of over $5 million and sales volume of over $17 million.

"It's sometimes painful to look back," said Rust in accepting the trophy. "Like the others who have accepted this honor before us, it's a good crowd to be in."

Past winners include General Sign Co., Lone Star Industries, Procter & Gamble Paper Products and BioKyowa, Inc.

A number of Concord employees were present at the dinner.

"Cape Girardeau is blessed with many business leaders who could have received this award," he said. "A lot of people with a trait for hard work started from scratch. All had their share of struggling but used hard work, honesty and recognition of quality."

Among names mentioned by Rust were the late Oscar Hirsch (founder of KFVS-TV), the late Ralph Edwards, Lon Maxie of General Sign, the Drury Brothers, Earl Norman, Gene Rhodes, Wayne Rust and others.

"Some of these people didn't have an opportunity to go to college," said Rust. "But, they had a lot of leadership."

Rust concluded his remarks by saying that "Cape Girardeau is a good place to raise a family."

The award was presented following remarks by Wendell Bailey, Missouri state treasurer, who briefly discussed the MO Bucks program, and Curtis M. Long, president of Associated Industries of Missouri (AIM), who discussed leadership of the United States in the quality of products and services that are being strongly challenged by foreign competition.

During his remarks concerning the 1992 industrial winner, Mehner pointed out that the Cape Girardeau division of Concord Publishing Co., Inc., employs 140 workers, with a volume of over $10 million.

"The operation here is more than just the Southeast Missourian and Concord Printing," said Mehner. "It includes Commercial Web Printing, Direct Mail, Targeted Publication, Tipoff Magazine, Business Today and Zip Sheet."

It is also affiliated with Horizon Screen Printing, Marcon Specialty Advertising and Concord International. In addition, the company serves as the corporate umbrella for the Daily American Republic newspaper in Poplar Bluff, the Daily Statesman in Dexter and the Daily Democrat in Kennett. These papers and the company's flagship newspaper are read by more than a quarter-million people throughout 16 counties of Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois.

Rust's first newspaper was located on Broadway in what is now the Art Craft Center. By 1975, the family newspaper had merged with the mid-week Jackson Journal and was delivered free, three times a week, to a circulation of 12,000.

In 1973, the operation expanded when the printing arm of the then-Craftsman Printing and Office Company was purchased. It is now Concord Printing Services.

In 1976, the Bulletin Journal's primary competition, the Southeast Missourian, was sold to the Canadian-based Thomson newspaper chain, a $7 billion company. An ensuing 10-year battle started and in the end it was the Bulletin Journal that gained the upper hand. The Southeast Missourian became the first newspaper in the United States that Thomson sold in a lone transaction.

"It was sold to Gary Rust, the founder of the company we are recognizing tonight," said Mehner.

The company is active in community affairs, said Mehner. "Last year, like it has year after year, the company led the way in community projects like the Adopt-a-School program, Toybox, Christmas for the Elderly, Newspapers in Education, and the United Way's Youth, Education, Literacy and Learning (YELL) Program," said Mehner. "It also pledged more than $200,000 to local charities and organizations, including $100,000 to the construction of a business school building at Southeast Missouri State University."

During his remarks, Long stressed that costs and quality are two big factors in business success.

"We believe that quality is essential for the well-being and future success of all Missourians," said Long.

He noted that AIM, a not-for-profit corporation, represented business and industry with the Missouri General Assembly and various administrative agencies in efforts with increasing health costs, workers compensation costs and other problems.

He added that the state is adopting a commitment to excellence award the Missouri Quality Award Program that will recognize the achievements of organizations that improve the quality of their products and services.

"The first award will be presented in 1993," said Long.

Three other awards were presented Thursday, to Industrial Fair booth participants. Columbia Sportswear Company of Chaffee received two awards Best All Around Display and People's Choice award. Sabreliner of Perryville received the fair's New Participant award.