LEONARD SANDER, 79, DIES

JACKSON -- Flags throughout Cape Girardeau County are at half-staff in honor of longtime county leader Leonard F. Sander of Jackson, who died Monday, Aug. 10, 1998, from complications following a heart attack June 15. He was 79.

Sander was the circuit clerk of Cape Girardeau County before being elected in 1976 to eight terms as a county judge and county commissioner. The county switched from a county court system of government to a county commission in 1984.

Sander served in county government a total of 20 years before retiring in 1992. He was known for his common sense, for putting the good of the county first and for his integrity.

"He was a fine man," said former commissioner E.C. Younghouse. "I think everybody will agree on that."

Visitation will be at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at New McKendree Church. Burial will be in Russell Heights Cemetery.

Sander, who also was on the Jackson Board of Aldermen from 1951 to 1954, was part of a family tradition of public service. His grandfather was a county judge and his father, C.H. Sander, served both as the mayor of Jackson and as an associate county judge.

Sander's son, Paul, is currently the Jackson mayor.

Among the accomplishments he had a role in as a county officeholder, Sander himself listed the purchase and renovation of the Cape Girardeau County Administration Building, his support of the growth of the Cape Girardeau County Health Department, the 45 bridges built during his tenure, and the county's improved financial condition.

Those who knew and worked with Sander lauded him Monday for his contributions to the county, particularly his stewardship of the county road system, and for his guidance.

"He served as a mentor for a lot of the young public servants in this area," said Jackson City Administrator Steve Wilson.

"That may be his legacy, his willingness to share what in many cases he learned the hard way."

Wilson said Sander was someone people in public service try to emulate "in dealing with the public and getting on with the public good."

"The service he rendered to this area will long be remembered. That's as good as it gets -- to be remembered."

Younghouse served with Sander on the county commission for five years.

"Leonard was very much interested in doing the right thing for the county for the many years he was on the county commission," Younghouse said.

He said Sander was low key and efficient. "He didn't go in for the loud noises and so on of politics. He realized the public had elected him to do a good job, and he tried valiantly to do that job."

He said Sander was proud of his son Paul's political work.

J. Ronald Fischer, another former member of the county court, echoed Younghouse's words.

"He and Gene (Huckstep) were both Republicans. I was a Democrat. That was something that never did surface," Fischer said.

"Always, the decision that was made was what was good for Cape County."

Current Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones said Sander and the other commissioners developed a county park system that is second to none in the state. "Once that kind of groundwork is laid, it certainly makes it a lot easier to continue ... and even to improve," Jones said.

Born in Tilsit on Dec. 21, 1918, Sander moved to Jackson with his family in 1926. He started a business with his father and brother, Charles, in 1934, the C.H. Sander Sales Co. He and Aleene Illers married in 1938.

He was in the Navy in World War II, serving in the North and South Pacific.

Another business, Sander's Appliance Co., was started in 1967.

He received the Jackson Chamber of Commerce R.A. Fulenwider Award for outstanding community service in 1991, an award he was unable to watch his son receive this year because of the heart attack.

He also received a Friend of Agriculture Award from the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, an award for helping develop and carry out University of Missouri Extension Service programs, and a Humanitarian Award from the Professional Black Men's Club of SEMO.

His involvement in the community included the presidency of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce, membership in Jackson's first all-volunteer fire department and chairmanship of a post-WWII civil defense unit.

He also was co-chairman of Jackson's first Community Chest Drive, a member of the Southeast Missouri Hospital Association, a member and chairman of the Jackson Park Board, and was a 4-H instructor.

He and other residents started Little League baseball in the city, and he coached Babe Ruth League baseball.

Sander was a member of the University of Missouri Extension Council, the Cape Girardeau County Planning and Zoning Commission and the Cape Girardeau County Transit Board of Directors.

Paul Sander said his father never pushed him into politics. "He was always supportive of my efforts, whatever they were."

His father was well liked and a man of his word, Sander said. "His honesty with the family and government was unquestioned by everyone. That's something to be proud of in itself."

"... I hope I can gain a small portion of the respect he has," he said.

He called his father "a terrific dad." He said: "A person couldn't have a better dad. He was a one-of-a-kind sort of guy and he was always there when you needed him."