LOCAL DISTRIBUTOR RECEIVES AWARD

The River Eagle Distributing Company has received the `Dimension of Excellence' award from Anheuser-Busch, Inc., which designates the firm as "Most Improved Wholesaler" in Missouri.

"The Cape Girardeau distributing company actually won the award in nine months," said Sean T. Geoghegan, district sales manager for Anheuser-Busch. "The company was not acquired by its present owners until March."

Present owners include Gene H. Patterson, R. Clifford Smith and James A. Rust, who were present Thursday to receive the award from Geoghegan.

"The award is based on a number of factors," said Geoghegan. "They include sales and marketing, management, administration, warehousing, delivery, and community involvement. The Cape Girardeau distributor increased its overall rating by 60 percent during the year. That's an incredible performance."

"This award is a result of the entire company working together," said Patterson, who is president of the firm. "Everybody pitched in and made adjustments to the new ownership. This is a great honor."

"It was definitely a team effort," added Smith. "We're excited about it."

"We're certainly proud of everyone's efforts," said Rust. "We're thrilled with the award."

The company had to edge out 20 other wholesalers in the state.

"The excellence program is a volunteer one," said Geoghegan. "But almost all distributors take part in it, and we have 21 wholesalers throughout the state.

"We grade each distributor twice a year," said Geoghegan. "Following the first grading session, we point out to distributors how they can improve."