GENE E. HUCKSTEP

Gene E. Huckstep died May 13, 1998 at the family home in Cape Girardeau, Mo. He was born July 30, 1928 in Cape Girardeau, Mo., the son of Albert and Marie Siebert Huckstep. He and Betty Jane Hargis were married Aug. 21, 1946 in Jackson, Mo.

He was a graduate of Cape Central High School and served in the U.S. Army from 1946 to 1948. In 1948 he established Huckstep Corporation and owned Huckstep Body and Paint, a family owned automotive business. He was elected to the Cape Girardeau School Board and served from 1964-1973 as a member and past president. Under his direction, Cape Vocational Technical School was established in 1967. He was also elected as presiding commissioner, Cape Girardeau County Commission 1979-1994. While commissioner, Cape County rose from near bankruptcy to one of the most prosperous counties in Missouri. Other projects completed under his guidance included development of Cape Girardeau County Parks North and South, Cape County Administration Building and the Missouri Department of Conservation Building at Cape County Park. He was member and long time Chairman of the Board of Directors, Saint Francis Medical Center, 1973 to present. He also served as CEO of Cameron Mutual Insurance Co. 1993-1998. Mr. Huckstep was a charter member and past president of Good Shepherd Lutheran Chapel. He served as a member of the Board of Directors of the former Farmers and Merchants Bank, Centerre Bank and Boatman's Bank and was currently a director of NationsBank. He was currently serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the Lutheran Home.

Mr. Huckstep served as Special Deputy for the Cape County Sheriff's office 1968-1976. He was a member of Cape County Republicans. He served as member and past president SEMO District Fair. He was appointed by Governor Kit Bond to be on Comprehensive Health Planning and Emergency Medical Services in 1973 and he served as a member of Missouri Judicial Finance Commission 1982-1994. He served as campaign coordinator for Kit Bond's election as Governor 1980. He was a member of Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association 1993. He developed and promoted legislation approved by the state for an ambulance training and licensing law and was instrumental in obtaining both Missouri Veterans Home and SEMO Port Authority for this region.

He operated a voluntary emergency extrication service from 1965-1987 in Cape Girardeau and surrounding counties, making more than 1,750 emergency extrications. He was appointed Honorary Trooper by Missouri State Highway Patrol in 1978.

His numerous awards and honors included the Cape Rotary Club "Service About Self" Award in 1971. He received "Citation For Bravery" by National Association of Police Officers in 1968, "Outstanding Civic Leader" Award by Missouri Municipal League in 1971; "Missouri Businessman of the Year" by Missouri Peace Officers Associations in 1971; "Peace Officer of the Year" by Evening and Breakfast Exchange Club in 1973; "Liberty Bell" Award by the Cape Girardeau County Bar Association in 1975, "Vo-Tech Recognition" Award by Cape Girardeau Vo-Tech School in 1983. In 1987, the Saint Francis Medical Center Gene E. Huckstep Emergency/Trauma Center was named in his honor in appreciation of his years of service to emergency medical care. He received the "Cobblestone Award" in 1988 and the "Certificate of Distinguished Service" by the State of Missouri Emergency Management Agency in 1994. He received the prestigious Rush H. Limbaugh, Sr. Award by the Cape Chamber of Commerce in 1998 which recognizes an area businessman who has expended exceptional effort on behalf of the community for an extended period of time.

Survivors include his wife; his mother; two sons, Gordon Huckstep of Cape Girardeau and Christopher Huckstep of Kingsport, TN; two daughters, Cheri Reed and Janis Rebert, both of Cape; and five grandchildren: Zachary and Holly Huckstep, Aharon Reed and Staci Rebert, all of Cape and Devin Traughber of Kingsport, TN; and a brother, Willmon Huckstep of Cape. He was preceded in death by his father, brother and granddaughter. Visitation will be 4-9 pm Friday at Ford & Sons Funeral Home, Mount Auburn Rd. The funeral will be at 10 am Saturday, May 16, 1998, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Chapel in Cape Girardeau, Mo., the Rev. Barry L. Pfansteil officiating.

Pallbearers will be Don Shelton, Gilbert Wooldridge, Leonard Sachse, Ray Voges, Gary Huckstep and A.J. Seier.

The family of Gene E. Huckstep requests all memorials and donations be made to Good Shepherd Lutheran Chapel Building Fund, Cape Girardeau, Mo.