SEMO District Fair organizer receives Limbaugh Award at annual chamber of commerce dinner

Pete Poe's mark on Cape Girardeau includes long-time work as general manager for two Drury hotels and promoter of the state's oldest fair.

But David Limbaugh said Poe would rather serve than make a big deal of his accomplishments in the community.

"Like it was said of Rush Limbaugh, the same holds true for tonight's honoree," Limbaugh said. "You somehow sensed you were in the presence of someone who had innate goodness about him. Tonight's honoree neither desires nor wants public recognition, but it's time our area recognized him

Tammy Bohnert and David Poe, the children of Pete Poe, accepted the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's Limbaugh Award for their father, who was unable to attend Friday's dinner. (Brian Blackwell)

for being a pillar of strength and vision."

Friday Poe was honored with the Rush H. Limbaugh Award for service to the community during the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce's annual dinner held at The Venue. Mary Burton-Hitt - who nominated him for the award - read a statement from Poe, who was unable to attend the dinner because he was attending the Missouri Association of Fairs and Festivals convention in Columbia, Mo. Poe serves as executive director of the association.

"I am humbled by this community recognition, especially coming from the Chamber of Commerce and the leadership position they hold," Poe said.

"Awards and recognition may be presented to an individual but no one has ever won anything singularly. Without the support of family, close friends and a vast network of business associates nothing is possible.

"To borrow a line from the Jaycee creed, service to humanity is the best work of life, and my personal philosophy that service is the rent we pay for living in this great community," he continued. "With that network of family, friends and associates standing alongside me, I gratefully yet with much humility accept this award on their behalf."

A life-long resident of Cape Girardeau, Poe has served as promoter of the SEMO District Fair, the oldest fair in Missouri, for 27 years. Poe also spent 28 years in the hotel industry, including general manager of Drury Lodge, Cedar Street restaurant and Pear Tree Inn.

Additionally, Poe was the first chairperson of the Cape Tourism Council, a predecessor of the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitor's Bureau and for the past 10 years has served as chairman of the annual support committee for the Southeast Missouri Hospital Foundation Board, committing to raise $400,000 annually.

Other organizations Poe has volunteered his time to include United Way, American Heart Association, New McKendree United Methodist Church and Egypt Mills antique tractor club.

Despite snow falling outside, a crowd of 530 attended the event. The chamber sold 660 tickets to the event.

Still, chamber executive director John Mehner said that he was pleased with the turnout.

"Amazing," Mehner said. "We knew travel would be tough and knew some wouldn't be able to make it. But we appreciate those who did come out."

Also honored at the event were the two Small Business of the Year award winners, only the second time more than one business has won the award. Both businesses tied for first place.

Skyview Animal Clinic and Northwestern Mutual Financial Network - The Hahs Group were presented with the Small Business of the Year awards.

Reopened in May 1987 after closing for more than a year, Skyview Animal Clinic has treated 18,000 animals and has grown from five employees when it started to 18 today. In the past five years alone sales have increased by almost 80 percent.

The second winner, Northwest Mutual Financial Network - The Hahs Group, opened in 1954. The insurance business celebrated its best year ever in 2009, seeing more than 8,800 clients in 20 Southeast Missouri and 19 Southern Illinois counties. The company has 23 full-time and eight part-time staff members.

The chamber also presented Paula Myers of Alliance Bank with the Go Getter Award. The honor is given to a Chamber Ambassador who has excelled in membership recruitment and retention efforts and volunteered extensively at numerous chamber events throughout the year.

bblackwell@semissourian.com

388-3628

Pertinent address:

80 S. Plaza Way, Cape Girardeau, MO