NEW MANAGER PREPARES TO LEAD WAL-MART THROUGH MOVE

Rick Boyd's first taste of the Jackson-Cape Girardeau area came as a rival college football player a decade ago. Today Boyd is part of the hometown team.

Boyd, who played football at Southwest Baptist University 1989-92, was named new manager of Jackson Wal-Mart Nov. 1.

The move comes in preparation of the opening of the new $3.25 million Wal-Mart super center on Highway 72. Boyd, who most recently managed a large super center in Plano, Ill., hopes the new store will be open by mid- or late-spring.

The Arkansas native, who calls baseball and hunting his hobbies, brings six and a half years experience with him in the Wal-Mart corporation, spread between nine locations and three states.

Boyd likes what he has seen in Jackson. He and his wife Lisa have purchased a home in Jackson. The couple has three children, Whitney (10), Dylan (7) and Austin (2).

"I love it," he said. "This community has one of the key assets a city needs to succeed--a strong sense of family. It has a homey feeling. You walk down the street and say 'Hi' and everybody speaks. It's a very friendly place."

Boyd is confident the long-anticipated move to the 125,000-square foot super center will go as smoothly as possible.

"With the new building we'll be in better position to serve the customers' needs," he said. "It will be a transition all right, but I'm certain it will be successful for both of us."