FORMER MAYOR LARRY NOWAK DIES AT 92

Jackson lost a 61-year resident, two-time mayor and long-time community leader last week.

Former Jackson mayor Larry Nowak died Tuesday at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau at age 92. The flag at Jackson City Hall was flown at half-staff until the funeral services Friday.

Nowak was mayor of Jackson from 1957-61 and from 1963-1969. It was a relatively quiet period in the city's history before the annexation battles with Cape Girardeau and before the city entered the growth spurt that still continues. One highlight was the celebration of the city's sesquicentennial in 1965.

He and R.A. Fulenwider are credited with bringing Lee-Rowan Co. to the city in 1964.

"Former mayor Nowak served the city with honor, integrity and dedication," said Mayor Paul Sander. "In the years since he left city office, Mayor Nowak continued to be a strong supporter of the city of Jackson. He never missed a city or Chamber of Commerce event.

"The city of Jackson was truly blessed to have a person like Mayor Nowak as a community leader for many, many years. He was a true American gentleman and a never-ending ambassador to Jackson. He will be missed by many who knew and respected him. Thanks to former mayor Nowak, who led his generation soundly and set a solid foundation for the next."

Nowak and the late former mayor Walter Kasten had a friendly rivalry over who would lead the city during this period.

"He was very quiet and laid back," said former mayor Carlton "Cotton" Meyer, who served as an alderman under Nowak.

"He didn't like controversies. We didn't have any, but that was one of the reasons."

Meyer recalls that Nowak was upset the time he had to cast the deciding vote on the appointment of the city attorney.

Carl Talley was assistant superintendent for the city during part of Nowak's service as mayor and later became city administrator when Jackson switched to that form of government. Nowak oversaw power plant expansions, the building of sewers and streets and a wastewater treatment plant, he said.

"He was meticulous, sought out answers, communicated well and was well thought of as a community leader," Talley said.

He said Nowak "was always there. Larry was a person that attended. He was of great service to this community."

Nowak was defeated by Kasten in a run for mayor in 1961, by R.O. Hawkins in 1969 and by Paul Leonard in 1971. He served on the Board of Aldermen from 1949-1957. He was a supervisor at the Jackson Hosiery Mill and later worked as treasurer for the Southeast Missouri Medical Center.

In 1982, he received the Chamber of Commerce's R.A. Fulenwider Award, the city's highest civic honor. He was a member of the Chamber from 1955 until his death and also was on the board of the Industrial Development Corporation at the time of his death.

"He was a key man in this town but didn't ask for recognition and didn't get enough," said Andrew Perrin, a member of the Chamber since 1951 and former vice president of Lenco.

Nowak was born July 10, 1908, in Nashville, Ill. He and Mabel M. Klieneberg were married June 1, 1938, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Chester, Ill. She died Dec. 5, 1997.

In 1939 the Nowaks moved from Chester to Jackson, where Nowak managed the Jackson Hosiery Mill.

He always maintained an active role in the Jackson community. He joined the Jackson Optimist Club in 1944, served as president in 1948, chaplain since 1992, past lieutenant governor, and had a 49-year perfect attendance record.

As a longtime member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, he served on the Parish Council and was a 4th Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus.

In 1968 he joined the Southeast Missouri Medical Center Inc., a not-for-profit corporation for health services in the Jackson area. He served as treasurer for the group from 1971-2000.

Other contributions during his career include his assistance in the development of the power plant expansion, major street paving, and improvement of waterworks and sewage systems.