HART SAYS NO CONGRESS RUN

Jim Hart said no to a congressional race and yes to the United Way during a visit to Cape Girardeau Wednesday.

Hart, athletic director for Southern Illinois University and former St. Louis Cardinals quarterback, had been considering a run for the 12th Congressional District in Southern Illinois.

The seat has been held by U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Belleville, for the past nine years.

Hart was guest speaker for an Area Wide United Way luncheon. He said he wouldn't pursue a career in politics.

"I didn't want you to think I was just coming over here to raise money for my campaign," Hart joked.

Instead, he urged the group of Cape Girardeau business leaders to encourage support of the United Way, a cause he has been involved with in the past.

Hart said, "I was flattered by all the talk and propaganda thrown my way, but I looked at myself in the mirror and said naaahh!!"

Hart did seriously consider a run for the seat, but while talking with SIU President Don Beggs, Beggs asked Hart if he had a burning desire to serve in Congress.

"I stopped short and had to answer, no," Hart said. "Would I have liked to be a Congressman? Sure. But I didn't have a burning desire for politics. I do have a burning desire to be the best athletic director possible for my alma mater."

Wednesday's luncheon was designed to encourage local businesses to participate in the campaign and consider offering payroll deductions for United Way contributions.

Fund raising is a big part of Hart's job at SIU. He has been raising money for different causes since his days on the gridiron.

"As the quarterback and team leader, I was asked to give the pitch for the United Way," Hart recalled.

The first year he handed out pledge cards. "I got nothing."

The next year he did a little brow beating but didn't do much better.

"Unfortunately there is no fairy-tale ending," Hart joked. "Those guys were a bunch of cheapskates."

The secret to fund raising is persistence, Hart said.

Dennis Marchi with Schnucks agreed. His store experiences 100 percent employee participation each year in the United Way campaign. He talks personally to each employee about the importance of United Way.

"It really works," he said. "There is no arm twisting. I have baggers giving $4 a week."

Between $12,000 and $14,000 is collected in the store each year.

The Area Wide United Way will kickoff the 1997 fund-raising campaign Sept. 12. The campaign goal will be announced, and astronaut Linda Godwin will be the guest speaker.

The local United Way funds 24 service agencies in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City.