NELSON RECEIVES CHAMBER AWARD

JACKSON -- An unassuming leader who joked he "could tell you stories" on most of those in the audience was honored with the R.A. Fulenwider Meritorious Community Service Award Monday night.

James R. Nelson, who was principal of Jackson High School for 23 years, received the award at the annual Jackson Chamber of Commerce Installation Banquet at Jackson Knights of Columbus Hall.

Nelson was presented the chamber's highest award by Mayor Paul Sander, last year's recipient.

"He always had a low profile but has done wonders for the community," Sander said.

Nelson spent 37 years in education, starting the program that became Cooperative Education before becoming principal at the high school in 1956. No other person has served as principal as long.

He is credited with establishing the girls track and cross country teams at the high school. He also managed the City Pool from 1956 to 1967.

He is a past member of the city's Planning and Zoning Commission and now serves on the Board of Adjustments.

He is a past commander of the Jackson American Legion post and for many years supervised the talent show at Homecomers.

The chamber named its officers for the 1999-2000 year. Darrell Aufdenberg will assume the presidency from Howard Alexander, with Robert Goyette becoming vice president. Val Tuschoff will retain her position as secretary-treasurer.

Also honored Monday night was the Rev. Walter Keisker, who in 1978 became the first recipient of the Fulenwider Award. Keisker will turn 100 on July 10.

Mack Illers, Keisker's grandson, entertained the crowd of 200 with stories about his grandfather, an avid Cardinals fan whose birth predated the invention of the automobile and the airplane.

Keisker also took his turn, telling some stories on Nelson.

The keynote speaker was U.S. Rep. Jim Talent, a Republican candidate for governor of Missouri and chairman of the House Committee on Small Business.

"The vitality of Jackson, the vitality of this area depends on the small-business community," he said.

There is a dividing between people who think government is important while being suspicious of the private sector, Talent said, and people who think private enterprise is important but are leery of government.

Talent is serving his fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives after spending eight years in the Missouri House.

He criticized taking highway funds away from states that don't comply with the Clean Air Act, saying that reducing money for highways only exacerbates those problems.

He favors the effort to put federal education funding under local control.

Talent said Missouri has become a high tax state and is the nation's second-highest producer of methamphetamine. "It's a sad thing about Missouri that we have become a leader in taxes and methamphetamine production," he said.