FOURTEEN YEARS ON PORT BOARD TAUGHT MYSIE KEENE PATIENCE

JACKSON -- Mysie Keene learned patience during her 14-year career as a commissioner of the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority.

Just about everything the port attempted to do was covered by regulations from several governmental agencies. Nothing was simple.

"There were a lot of times I wanted to throw up my hands and scream or push to get things to move along faster," said Keene. "But there are so many rules and regulations and people to deal with, I found out you can't move things as quickly as you want."

Keene said her patience came from understanding why things took so long. "I developed a patience through the port that I did not know was in me," she said.

Keene did not seek reappointment to the board from the Cape Girardeau County Commission. Her 14 years of service is longer than anyone else who ever served on the board. She is also the only woman ever to serve on the board, which was created in 1974 as a joint venture between the Cape and Scott County commissions.

During the last two years, she served as chairman of the nine-member board.

Last spring she decided not to seek another three-year term because she felt it was time for the board to get new ideas and for her to do other things.

"I am leaving the board with a great deal of regret, because I will miss everything and all the people I have worked with. But I am also leaving with a great feeling of pride that I had a part in the development of such a huge enterprise in this area," Keene said.

A four-year, quarter-cent sales tax passed by voters in 1985 turned out to be a turning point in the funding for capital improvements at the port. Several Economic Development Administration grants and other state and federal funding assistance have helped port development.

When Keene first joined the board, the port authority was leasing a small amount of land and was little more than a dream.

Now, the port authority owns 570 acres and is poised to begin an aggressive marketing phase to bring industry in and around the port.

Keene said there are many things she is proud of that happened during her tenure, but the role she played in hiring Dan Overbey as executive director several years ago was one of the best. "He is outstanding in his job, extremely intelligent, hard working and has a background that could aid us in further development of the port," she said.

The port authority has not been Keene's only area of civic work. Over the last 30 years the Jackson resident has developed a long record of service and accomplishments.

As chairman of the Jackson Park Board she played a key role in the acquisition and development of the north side of the Jackson City Park.

She is also the only woman to have served as chairman of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce and the Jackson Industrial Development Co. boards, and served on the county industrial development authority and the Cape Girardeau County Park Board. She has also served on various state councils and has been active with other community groups.

"I have done some things I am very proud of, and now I think I am going to sit around and enjoy myself," said Keene.

She believes the key to success is cooperation. The ability to work with other governmental entities, groups and individuals has enabled the port to overcome problems that have arisen.

"That word cooperate is the secret to getting that port developed," said Keene. "I feel like the port is in very, very good hands and that it will continue to move forward."