MANES RECIPIENT OF JACKSON'S FULENWIDER AWARD FOR SERVICE

JACKSON -- Chamber of Commerce members Monday gathered to pay homage to a longstanding contributor to the city's well being.

Stone Manes was named the recipient of the 1994 R.A. Fulenwider Award, presented annually by the Jackson Chamber of Commerce to an individual who has given meritorious service to the community.

The award was presented during the 1994 Jackson Chamber of Commerce Officers Installation Banquet, held at the Wayside Inn in Jackson.

Dr. T. Wayne Lewis, last year's Fulenwider Award winner, and a member of the committee that selected Manes for this year's award, said: "Summarizing it up for Stone: He enjoys music, traveling, stamp collecting, photography -- and life."

"(Manes) has always said, `If you're asked to do something, you say yes,'" Lewis added. "And he has been an excellent example of that statement, which is what the R.A. Fulenwider Award is all about."

Unfortunately, Manes was unable to accept the award Monday, because he and his wife are on a European vacation.

Chamber officials said it's the first time in the history of the award that it has had to be presented in absentia.

Lewis said Manes will get the award when he returns home.

"Obviously, there was no way we could delay his departure until tonight without letting the cat out of the bag, so the committee decided to go ahead and make the award in absentia," he said. "Stone will receive his award at either the August or September meeting."

The Fulenwider award is presented to persons who have made significant contributions to the life Jackson in honor of the late R.A. Fulenwider, a prominent civic and community leader."

Manes, 71, was born Sept. 22, 1922, in Stoutland. He graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in February 1943, in absentia, because he had enlisted in the Army. He served in the war in Europe in the armored division as a tank operator, and later with the Allied Occupation Forces in France.

Manes returned to Jackson after the war and married Dorothy Kasten in 1944, who died in 1977. They had three children: Jean, Fran, and Kevin. He has eight grandchildren. In 1978, Manes married Alice Thyr Manes in Beaumont, Tex.

He has worked with the Ceramo Company of Jackson since 1950.

From 1968 to 1976, Manes was on the board of directors of the Southeast Missouri Medical Center Inc. He was on the board at the time they started their successful fundraising campaign, the purchase of 78 acres of property, the recruitment of a physician, and construction of the doctor's office.

Manes also served as president of the SEMMC from 1974-1976. He later served as a board member of the Southeast Hospital Board of Trustees and the Southeast Hospital Foundation Board.

He also served on the Jackson Library Board.

Manes is a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, where he served as choir director for several years and as a member of their board. He also directed the Jackson Community Choir several years ago.

Manes has been a Jackson Rotarian with perfect attendance since 1959. He has served as the club president, district governor, leader of a Rotary group study exchange team to Sweden, a delegate to Rotary International Council on Legislation, and chairman of Show Me-Rotary.