25 benchmarks shape area's development, destiny

The year 1980 was marked by a number of significant events. In addition to the founding of Springfield Business Journal, the year was notable for major changes in politics, media and world events.

Ronald Reagan, former actor and California governor, was elected president for the first time.

Ted Turner launched CNN, a 24-hour-a-day cable news network.

Mount St. Helens erupted in Washington.

Iraq launched an air strike on Iran, starting the eight-year Iran-Iraqi War, and Poland’s Solidarity Party became the first independent labor union under the Soviets.

It’s also the year that former Beatle John Lennon was shot to death in New York City.

Among the news in SBJ’s pages in that startup year, Noble & Associates expanded at its 300 S. Jefferson location to 9,000 square feet and 34 employees.

Local secretaries were earning an average of $4.43 an hour in the third quarter – up 17 cents from the second quarter, and City Utilities announced it had hired a new assistant general manager, Bob Mikessell, at a starting salary of $45,000.

Empire Bank was paying 5.25 percent on its interest checking account.

And TeleCable of Springfield, the forerunner of Mediacom, began offering cable advertising, charging $9 for a 30-second spot during prime time and $7.50 for a 30-second spot after 11 p.m.

Yes, things have changed.

Then again, some things never change. A 1980 SBJ editorial cartoon showed a nervous Uncle Sam, holding a hypodermic labeled “Solution,” approaching a wary porcupine labeled “Social Security.” Uncle Sam’s comment: “Uh, this could be tricky.”

In light of all that has changed – and stayed the same – we have produced this special 25th Anniversary Issue around what we call our 25 Benchmarks.

A benchmark, by definition, is a standard for comparison and a point of reference. It was with that definition in mind that we chose the 25 industries, people and phenomena listed at right.

They have influenced the Springfield area’s identity, development and destiny, and we believe will continue to do so. We hope that you will find the coverage interesting and enlightening.