Former treasurer Reynolds,78, dies

Cape Girardeau County's longest-serving treasurer died Saturday at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

Bill Reynolds, 78, of Cape Girardeau, who served as county treasurer for 24 years, died following what friends and former coworkers believed to be an extended illness.

"Bill was a great public servant for many, many years," said Gerald Jones, Cape Girardeau County presiding commissioner. "He did a lot of great things in the community, and Bill will be sorely missed by everyone."

Reynolds was known as "Mr. Basketball" when he worked for KFVS radio announcing basketball and football games from 1950 to 1975. He also owned Oglander's, a Main Street clothing store in Cape Girardeau, for five years until September 1979.

"I remember him announcing games on the radio," Jones said. "He was the color man. He always added a lot of color to the games."

In March 1980, Reynolds filed as a Republican candidate for Cape Girardeau County treasurer. He beat out incumbent treasurer Jack Piepenbrok in the November elections.

Reynolds was sworn into the treasurer's office in December 1980 by longtime county clerk Rodney Miller, who retired last year.

"I knew him for a long time. He was a very good man," Miller said.

Weldon Macke, former auditor of the county, said Reynolds did an "excellent job" as the county's treasurer for 24 years.

Jones said Reynolds "modernized the treasurer's office" when the county's budgeting process went to an electronic system in 1986.

Reynolds retired in 2004.

He was born in Cape Girardeau, attended Southeast Missouri State University and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. Survivors include his wife, Veneida Reynolds, and two children, Terry Reynolds and Tammy Johns.

"This is a great loss to Cape Girardeau County, not just in county government, but the entire community," Jones said.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Ford and Sons Funeral Home.

jfreeze@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 246