Red Letter CEO wins Hutson award at Old Town Cape dinner

Jim Riley, founder and CEO of Red Letter Communications, received the Charles L. Hutson Visionary Award at the Old Town Cape annual dinner Thursday.

Riley, a partner in Dream Big LLC, worked to bring the $125 million Isle of Capri casino development to downtown Cape Girardeau.

Unable to attend the event, Riley asked co-worker Trent Summers to read remarks he prepared after learning he would receive the award.

The casino project provides an opportunity to really define the character of the community, Summers said.

"What we do next and how we leverage this newfound awareness and traffic and resources to our community will really say a lot about this remarkable place that we all call home," he said. "For me, we are at the start, and I know many of you share my goal of using this new beginning in Old Town to create widespread opportunity and significant advancement and many, many more new jobs in our community."

Summers said Riley dedicated the award to his mother, Evelyn Riley, who was in attendance, and in memory of his father.

Riley became involved in the downtown in 1981 when he chose to locate Red Letter Communications downtown. He has been committed to keeping the business downtown ever since, recently announcing a relocation to 16 N. Spanish St.

Over the years, he's worked on several community projects, including developing the Transportation Trust Fund, fire and parks tax initiatives and lighting on the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge. He's currently involved in a marketing effort to attract baby boomers to retire in Cape Girardeau in partnership with the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce. He has been an advocate, supporter and resource to the Discovery Playhouse on Broadway. He also has assisted with the effort to establish a Community Improvement District downtown.

Volunteer of the Year

Melissa Miller ~ mmiller@semissourian.comClaire Bruce, left, a member of the Old Town Cape Economic Restructuring Committee, was named volunteer of the Year at the organization's annualdinner Thursday. Also shown is incoming Old Town Cape board president, Dr. Lisa Bertrand.

Claire Bruce, a member of the Old Town Cape economic restructuring committee, was named volunteer of the Year. A volunteer since 2009, she has worked on a downtown market analysis and market messaging projects. She was an instructor for the Operation Main Street: Business Success Series training program for downtown businesses. She recently conducted a social media promotion to encourage people to do their Christmas shopping downtown. A graduate student at Southeast Missouri State University, Bruce also works with downtown small businesses through her market research company Merchapolitan.

Business Excellence Award

State Beauty Supply, owned by Emilie, John and Lindy Lysell, received Old Town Cape's Business Excellence Award. The award recognizes a business that demonstrates community involvement and a strong or long-term support of downtown. The Lysell family bought State Beauty Supply in 1992. State Beauty Supply was one of the first building rehabs to start on Broadway, and the Lysells continue with interior and parking lot improvements planned. In addition, one of the owners, Lindy Lysell, donates her time to be a part of the Community Improvement Steering Committee. In 2010, State Beauty Supply was recognized as store of the year out of 225 stores in 18 states.

Excellence in Preservation Awards

Broadway Prescription Shop and Shivelbine's Music were given Excellence in Preservation awards for their work to rehabilitate their businesses' historic commercial signage.

Broadway Prescription's sign was constructed 40 years ago and was designed by an employee, Carroll Snead, who was a pharmacist and a woodcarver. It was restored by Tim Roth, a local artist and wood carver.

The original rotating Shivelbine's sign has been a landmark on Broadway since 1969. Its rotating face originally had Magnavox on one side and Shivelbine's on the other. Coast to Coast Sign Co. rebuilt the sign, using its original frame, based on a design created by the Shivelbine family.

About 200 people attended the dinner.

mmiller@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address:

418 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, MO