SUTHERLAND REFLECTS ON JACKSON GROWTH

Jackson's growth has been called everything from "phenomenal" to "frightening." While it has escalated during the 1990s, that growth began to take place during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

The decade of the 1970s saw the city make some huge strides toward becoming the young giant it is today.

Buz Sutherland, director of the Small Business Development Center at Southeast Missouri State University, served as first executive director of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce, 1975-'76. He had previously worked with city officials while serving in the Missouri Division of Commerce and Industrial Development.

"There was a sense of community in Jackson which always impressed me," Sutherland said, when asked what had drawn him to the city. "My experience had been in Southwest and Southeast Missouri. Most communities had a few leaders who were real spark plugs. Jackson seemed to have a community full of those spark plugs. I always enjoyed working with Jackson. The spark plugs always challenged you.

"It just drew me to Jackson."

Jackson had been involved in the Missouri Community Betterment Program, run by the old Missouri Division of Commerce and Industrial Development, since December 1963. Sutherland first knew of the city when working for the DCID.

"In those days Jackson was very active in the Community Betterment program," Sutherland said. "There was an annual competition with population categories and Jackson always ranked very well."

One of the city's best showings, in fact, came following Sutherland's tenure. In October 1976, Jackson took first place in the CBA competition, topping more than 85 competing cities in the 5,000 to 10,000 population category and best overall, out of more than 300 communities. Larry Schott was president of the Jackson Community Betterment Association at the time.

Progress in the previous year included implementation of a summer recreational program, park development (A new swimming pool, tennis courts and the band shell were built.) and the keeping of a community scrapbook.

The "Look Ahead Jackson" industrial drive, which resulted in more than $250,000 being raised "in a matter of months" for the Route PP industrial tract, according to the Southeast Missourian, was also given high marks by judges. The reanimation of a long-defunct summer youth recreation program and the passage of a $1.6 million school bond issue and construction of medical clinic also helped.

Development of the industrial park was also a factor and awards were not the only thing the city was beginning to win. Jackson was also beginning to hang some bigger prizes on the wall -- new industries.

In August 1977, the announcement was made that Edward R. Spence Co., would locate an Ocean Plastics Division plant in Jackson, to be open by March 1, 1978. It initially employed 40 to 60, eventually giving jobs to 200 people.

Plaudits went to the Jackson Industrial Development Co. , then headed by President Van Puls, which bought a 30-acre tract from Harold Voges, half-mile south of LeeRowan. Spence required 12 acres to build a 40,000-square-foot building. It would later be annexed. The project was estimated to cost $700,000 to $750,000.

"It has been quite some time since Jackson has had a new industry," Puls said. "The last major industry that located in Jackson was LeeRowan in 1964."

All that was changing. With the industrial park being developed and all the intangibles in place, Jackson quickly became a magnet -- both to manufacturers and to retailers.

The city of Jackson was led by Mayor Carlton "Cotton" Meyer and City Administrator Carl Talley throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Sutherland credits them with being big Jackson backers.

"Mayor Meyer was always a cheerleader for his community," Sutherland recalled. "Everybody thinks their community is the best. Cotton, Carl and all the movers and shakers in Jackson didn't feel Jackson was the best place in the whole world. They knew it was and told people about it.

"They were always selling Jackson as the very best place to live. They were very upbeat and had a positive philosophy. They were always good ambassadors for Jackson."

Sutherland also praised Talley and Meyer for seeing the coming need for infrastructure growth to meet the city's continued growth, as it swelled from 2,087 acres in 1970 to 4,330 in 1979.

Urged to name some of the "spark plugs" that made Jackson unique during the 1970s, Sutherland pointed out several. He was quick to note, though, that he feared several might be inadvertently omitted.

"There was Mysie Keene, who worked on federal grants for parks and outdoors and was very active on the Park Board and development of the City Park," he said. "In the Chamber there were Dave Moll, Dr. T. Wayne Lewis, Jack Litzelfelner, Clearance Lee Sherrill and Karen Mirly, who worked for the Chamber.

"In the business community there was Gerald Jones, Marvin Proffer, Tom Schulte, Van Puls, Paul Leonard, Carl and Gene Penzel, Arnold Strickert, Vernon Kasten, Max Prill, the Sander family, and Rev. Keisker."

Sutherland didn't mean to indicate that everyone was on the same page at all times.

"They all sincerely had their own views on where Jackson should go and how it should get there. Their focus, though, was on the betterment of Jackson," he said. "There weren't hidden agendas. There was plenty of disagreement on how to make Jackson better. As long as you share a common focus, you'll get there."

Sutherland thinks he knows Jackson's secret, when all is said and done.

"My observation over 29 years is that the sum is greater than the parts," he said. "All the energies that individuals have put in have made Jackson better."