WISEMAN RECEIVES DINGELDEIN AWARD

A man who has shown his love for the arts through the donation of his time is the newest recipient of the Otto Dingeldein Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts.

The honoree, John Wiseman, is a longtime musician with the Cape Municipal Band who has been active in the River Heritage Museum, the Community Concert Association and the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri.

The announcement was made at the Arts Council's annual membership meeting Saturday night at the Port Cape Girardeau Restaurant.

Wiseman was presented with the award previously at the Lutheran Home, where he is a resident. Making the presentation were Beverly Strohmeyer, the council's executive director, and Bob Steinberg, a board member.

The arts have been important to his own life and are essential to the vitality of society at large, Wiseman said at the presentation.

"If you don't have the arts, the community will go downhill," he said.

Established in 1975, the award honors individuals or organizations that have made a considerable impact on the cultural life of the community. The original sculpture was awarded to silversmith Otto Dingeldein and is on display at the Cape Girardeau Public Library.

Recipients are given replica plaques.

Wiseman was nominated by Laura Brothers, the Arts Council's administrative assistant, and was chosen by the Arts Council board from several nominees.

A former auditor for the U.S. government who served in Germany after WWII, Wiseman is retired from Southeast Missouri State University, where he was the financial aid coordinator for many years.

Wiseman has been a tireless volunteer for a number of arts-oriented organizations.

"He has always been there when we needed him," Strohmeyer said.

Wiseman, 75, has been willing to do whatever the Arts Council needed, from selling tickets at craft fairs to general office help. He also has been the council's unofficial photographer, helping to document the organization's programs.

He was president of the Community Concert Association, now called the Southeast Missouri Concert Association, and served as a team leader and assistant to the performing artists.

At the River Heritage Museum, Wiseman has been a board member, volunteer, tour guide and fund-raiser, and was important in getting city funding to make the museum accessible for disabled people.

A clarinetist who also played the violin, he joined the municipal band in 1965 and has been both a board member and officer. He also helped found the city's German band.

In other action Saturday, the Arts Council announced its new officers: Chuck McGinty, chairman; Marge Nichols Sullivan, vice chairman; Marta Green, secretary; and Leland "Freck" Shivelbine, treasurer.

New members of the board are Danny Essner, Lee Ann Hansen and Dr. Edwin Smith.