RETIRED BANKER RECEIVES COVETED LIMBAUGH AWARD

Tireless community service and a long-standing commitment to the future of Cape Girardeau has earned veteran banker Narvol A. Randol Sr. the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. Award.

The award was presented by the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce during the chamber's annual dinner-dance at the Show Me Center. More than 800 people attended.

Also honored were Ken Bryan, who received the Go-Getter Award, presented by the chamber for a member's outstanding work with the organization's membership committee; Hutson's Fine Furniture, which received the chamber's Small Business of the Year Award; and 11 chamber members of more than 50 years.

New and outgoing directors were recognized by James Rust, outgoing chairman of the board.

The Limbaugh award was presented by David Limbaugh, a grandson of Rush Limbaugh Sr., for whom the award is named, and Randol's son Narvol Randol Jr.

Randol Sr., a retired banker, military serviceman and city official, is active in a number of civic groups and organizations.

He becomes the eighth recipient of the Limbaugh Award, which was established in 1989 by the chamber to recognize an area business person who has expended exceptional effort on behalf of the community for an extended time.

Limbaugh, an attorney for more than 75 years here, was first recipient of the award. Others are longtime radio and television station owner, the late Oscar Hirsch; businessman and former mayor Howard C. Tooke; businessmen Harry Rediger, Charles Hutson and Joe F. Gambill; and businessman and former mayor J. Hugh Logan.

Randol, a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University, joined Farmers and Merchants Bank in 1956 and was named president of the bank -- now Boatmen's -- in 1969. He retired from the bank in 1982.

Randol served with the 35th Infantry Division during World War II as a battalion commander in the European Theater. He received the state's highest military recognition in 1970, the Meritorious Service Award. He retired in 1971 as brigadier general with a total of 37 years service.

He was elected mayor of Cape Girardeau in 1954. He also served as president of the Missouri Municipal League of Mayors.

His numerous civic activities include work with the Crippled Children's Society, where he served on the board of directors for 20 years, including 10 as chairman of the board; and Boys Scouts of America, where he served as chairman of a 20-county reorganization effort. He served as president of the United Way and was chairman of the Corporate Division 10 years.

Randol was a member of the Cape Girardeau Board of Education four years and served as chairman of the finance committee. He is a past president of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce and received the Golden Deeds Award in 1977.

Randol has served as a member of the Southeast Missouri Hospital Board of Trustees since 1962, and has been honored by the hospital with its Special Service Award. He is a past president of the board.

He is also a member of the Red Cross Council, Masonic Lodge, Capaha Scottish Rite, Cape Girardeau Historical Society and Kiwanis Club, with a perfect attendance for 35 years.

Randol and his wife, Dorothy, are members of Grace United Methodist Church.

Charles Hutson, the 1993 Rush Limbaugh Award winner, shared in another chamber honor Friday night. Hutson, president of Hutson's Fine Furniture in downtown Cape Girardeau, accepted the chamber's fifth Small Business of the Year Award from Joseph McKeon, chairman of the chamber's Small Business Research Committee.

Previous winners of the award are Advance Business Systems in 1992, Bluff City Beer in 1993, KBSI-TV in 1994 and Ford Groves last year.

Hutson Furniture, which observed its 50th anniversary last year, started operations during fall 1945, when Glenn and Lynn Hutson returned from service and founded Hutson Brothers Furniture.

The company over the past 50 years has expanded from its original two employees to 44 full-time employees and operates two retail furniture stores in Cape Girardeau and one wholesale distributorship in Cape Girardeau and Columbia.

Hutson Brothers Furniture opened in 1945 in a small 2,000-square-foot building on North Main, but moved to larger quarters at the corner of Main and Independence a year later. The company moved into its existing building in 1954.

Furniture Fair opened at 1 N. Main in 1979. A Hutson Exchange Store was previously operated in the downtown area.

The third-generation furniture store underwent a complete renovation and expansion project during its anniversary year in 1995. The company takes pride in its employees, said Charles Hutson. Some of the employees have been with the company 38 years, and a number of others have more than 14 years with the company.

Community involvement of the store includes contributions to churches, hospitals, Southeast Missouri State University, Greater Downtown Merchant Association, Main Street Levee District, the chamber and the Redevelopment of Downtown Cape Girardeau

The company reports good sales increases and an excess growth of 34 percent over the past five years.

Heading the list of 50-year-plus members recognized Friday was Knaup Floral Co. and Greenhouses, a 75-year member which joined the chamber on June 20, 1920.

The other 10 50-year members joined the chamber in 1945. Hecht's Store, JCPenney, the Southeast Missourian, Sears Roebuck and Co., Lone Star Industries, Oliver, Oliver and Waltz, and W.E. Walker Insurance joined the chamber Jan. 1, 1945. Georgell Investments Inc. joined Feb. 1, 1945, and Baker Implement and Mid-America Distributing each joined Dec. 1, 1945.

Rust reviewed some of the accomplishments of the chamber during the past year.

"We had a good year in 1995," said Rust. "We made the final arrangements for our new headquarters building, which will be ready this summer. We had good construction growth in the city, and feel it will continue this year."

Rust then passed the gavel to Dennis Marchi, who is new chairman of the board.

Marchi said among major goals of the chamber for 1995 would be to help existing businesses grow and prosper, membership, economics and community betterment.