Longtime Scott County official, Sikeston businessman Walter Bizzell dies

SIKESTON -- Walter Bizzell -- known in Sikeston by some as a former postal carrier, to others as the founder of Bizzell Lawn Care, and known around Scott County for his time as a county commissioner -- died early Monday morning. He was 80.

"Walter was a wonderful guy," said Bob Kielhofner of Kelso, Mo. Everybody in Sikeston knew Walter because he was a mail carrier and walked the route."

In a December 2004 interview, Bizzell credited Kielhofner with helping him learn the county commissioner job and responsibilities, which include drafting and managing a county budget to maintaining the county's roads, bridges and courthouse.

Bizzell was elected to his first term on the Scott County Commission in 1992 and began serving in January 1993.

Commissioner terms at that time ran two years.

In the 2004 interview, Bizzell said his intention was to serve six years -- three terms -- but state statutes changed the length, and his third term was four years.

Having already stayed on the commission for two years longer than planned, Bizzell ended up serving another four years. Even though he already had announced he would not seek re-election, then-Presiding Commissioner Martin Priggel asked him to stay for a fourth term, which kept Bizzell in office until the end of 2004.

"Walter was a great commissioner to work with, for sure," Priggel said. "He was a hard worker and Walter always had the best interests of the county at heart. Anybody that knew Walter knew he was one of those people who would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it."

Bizzell worked with three presiding commissioners and four associate commissioners during his time in the county office.

Jamie Burger, the current presiding commissioner, joined the commission as an associate commissioner during Bizzell's last couple years in office.

"I was very, very lucky to have served at the same time he did," Burger said. "Not only did he teach me a whole lot, but he also became a very, very good friend. He was always very representative of the entire county. Scott County is a better place for him having served."

"He was a special man," Scott County Clerk Rita Milam agreed. "He cared about the county and the people in it -- was a very, very good commissioner, and a dear friend."

Scott County Commissioner Dennis Ziegenhorn followed Bizzell in the associate commissioner position for the county's southern district so he never served alongside Bizzell, but knew him well.

"Walter and my dad went to church together," Ziegenhorn said. "My dad encouraged Walter to run when my dad was getting ready to run for his last term. Then my father had a stroke and resigned about three months into his term so Ralph Boyer was appointed by the governor for the reminder of the term."

A couple years later, Lynn Ingram successfully ran against Boyer's bid for another two years in the office. Bizzell then successfully ran for the following term to serve his first two years on the commission.

While he faced opponents for re-election several times, Bizzell noted on several occasions he never even lost a precinct in those races.

Accomplishments Bizzell was a part of during his time on the commission include getting voters to fund a new county jail and seeing that facility built, along with a new office building for the sheriff's department and major restoration projects for the interior of the courthouse. Bizzell also was proud of all the bridges replaced during his time on the commission.

In Sikeston, those who didn't know Bizzell for his 32 years as a mail carrier probably remember him either for driving the Flower Basket's delivery truck or being a part of Bizzell Lawn Care, which he established in 1958.

Kielhofner said he also remembers Bizzell as an outstanding high school athlete.

"He was a terrific football player for Sikeston High. He said he was a starting running back and they never lost a game," Kielhofner said. "I think he started all four years."

In April 2005, Bizzell was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce.

Bizzell also served as a deacon for the First Christian Church, coached and for several years he helped maintain the VFW baseball field -- a time some remember as being that field's best years.

Other than serving on the Sikeston Park Board, Bizzell never sat on other boards or commissions.

Pertinent address:

Sikeston, Mo.

Benton, Mo.