Former Cape mayor earns top award at chamber banquet

An honor that brought a tear to his eye and a long hug for his son went to local banker and former Cape Girardeau mayor Jay Knudtson on Friday night at the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce's annual banquet at the Show Me Center.

Knudtson was presented with the Rush H. Limbaugh Award, which is presented annually by the chamber to an individual who has distinguished him or herself through community service for a significant period of time.

Awards were presented to several people and businesses at the banquet.

Local lawyer David Limbaugh presented the top honor to Knudtson, who came to live in the area from Minnesota about 25 years ago.

Knudtson "assimilated so quickly to Cape Girardeau when he moved here, making friends so fast among all groups and with all types of people, it was as if he had been born here," Limbaugh said before the award presentation.

"I knew he was going somewhere when I first met him, and he has definitely done that," Limbaugh said.

Laurie Everett, owner of Annie Laurie's Antiques, was presented with the Small Business of the Year Award from the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce on Friday night, Jan. 30, 2015, at the chamber's annual dinner at the Show Me Center. Everett poses with Cord Polen, the 2014 chamber board chairman. (Erin Ragan)

Knudtson, who has a long career in banking and is executive vice president of First Missouri State Bank, was mayor of Cape Girardeau from 2002 to 2010. He has been a member of the chamber since 1989 and served as a leader on several significant community boards, including Magnet, and served on the Homeland Security committee for the state of Missouri. He is a board member for SoutheastHEALTH; chairman of the I-66 corridor committee; and a member of the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents.

In 2014, Knudtson also was identified as one of "50 Missourians You Should Know" by Ingram's magazine.

Knudtson hugged his son, Gunnar, on the way to the platform to address the crowd Friday, where he thanked his wife, Cindy, for her support, and encouraged dinner attendees to participate in community service.

"It's the most wonderful return you'll ever get on investment," he said.

Knudtson, who also is serving as chairman of the chamber's board of directors this year, additionally thanked the chamber's board and members.

The chamber's Ambassador of the Year Award, presented to a member of the chamber for volunteer participation at chamber events, bringing in new members and helping retain current members, went to Paula Myers of Alliance Bank.

The chamber's membership development specialist, Kim Voelker, called the path to being presented the award "a very competitive process" and said Myers was selected for her networking abilities and friendliness.

Myers also won the Go-Getter Award, now called the Ambassador of the Year Award, in 2006, 2009, 2010 and 2012.

Lee Schlitt presented the chamber's Small Business of the Year Award to Annie Laurie's Antiques, owned by Laurie and Rocky Everett.

Paula Myers of Alliance Bank was presented with the Ambassador of the Year from the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce on Friday night, Jan. 30, 2015, at the chamber's annual dinner at the Show Me Center. Myers, second from left, poses with state Sen. Wayne Wallingford, state Rep. Kathy Swan and 2014 chamber board chairman Cord Polen. (Erin Ragan)

"It most certainly embraces the odd and unusual around the Cape Girardeau area," said Schlitt, owner of Broadway Prescription Shop, in presenting the award to Laurie Everett.

The antique store, at 536 Broadway, since 2007 has grown from only retail to offering five services, added employees, overhauled marketing, upgraded technology and been highlighted in national and local publications, Schlitt said, along with garnering recognition for business excellence from local and statewide organizations.

Three chamber members, SoutheastHEALTH, River Eagle Distributing and Roland Machinery, received plaques for 50 years of membership.

State Sen. Wayne Wallingford, left, poses with Jay Knudtson, winner of the 2015 Rush H. Limbaugh Award, state Rep. Kathy Swan, SoutheastHEALTH CEO Kenneth Bateman and 2014 chamber board chairman Cord Polen at the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce's annual dinner Friday night, Jan. 30, 2015, at the Show Me Center. SoutheastHEALTH was honored for 50 years of chamber membership. (Erin Ragan)

The dinner also featured a keynote address from Southeast Missouri State University president Kenneth Dobbins.

Dobbins spoke about how Cape Girardeau might look in 2030 and how partnerships within the community are key for growth, which led up to an announcement by Dobbins of a new student media lab to be developed downtown.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3632

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1333 N. Sprigg St., Cape Girardeau, MO