Thompson earns Jackson chamber's Fulenwider Award

Jackson Bank of Missouri president John M. Thompson was the recipient of the most prestigious award handed out at the Jackson Chamber of Commerce banquet Monday night.

Thompson accepted the R.A. Fulenwider Meritorious Community Service Award Monday night, an award given annually at the chamber banquet.

The bank president also serves as chairman of the SEMO Port Authority and Cape Girardeau County Industrial Development Authority. He is on the board of directors for the Jackson Industrial Development Authority and the United Way of Southeast Missouri.

He has been honored by the Jackson Heritage Association, Jackson High School Booster Club and was the recipient of the Booster Club's Dennis Sievers Memorial Award.

"It's an honor for me to share this night with someone who I care so deeply about," said the Rev. Sam Roethemeyer, the recipient of last year's Fulenwider Award, who introduced Thompson Monday night. "I deeply appreciate him, especially when you get to the 8th hole at the Bent Creek Golf Course and the swimming pool in his backyard is awfully inviting in July."

Although unprepared to accept the award, Thompson said he was "grateful, thankful and humbled. It's always nice to say you maybe gave more than you took," he said.

The Fulenwider Award was one of several awards given Monday night.

The banking industry in Jackson, which includes 11 local banks, received the Business of the Year awards.

Penzel Construction Co., an almost 100-year-old construction company, was named Industry of the Year. Some of its larger construction projects include the 13-story Hirsch Tower in Cape Girardeau, several buildings along High Street in Jackson. More recently, Penzel is working on widening Highway 34/72 in Jackson and a section of the new federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau.

The Cash-Book Journal newspaper, which publishes weekly, was honored for Small Business of the Year. Gerald Jones serves as president of the 135-year-old Jackson newspaper.

And Tom Strickland, chairman of the historic district committee, received the Service Award for his work in renovating the uptown Jackson business district.

jfreeze@semissourian.com

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