Five Questions: Brian Fogle

Each year since 1957, the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce has named a Springfieldian in recognition of the individual’s dedication to community service, excellence in a chosen profession and commitment to improving quality of life. This year, the award went to Brian Fogle, executive vice president of Community Foundation of the Ozarks.

Q: The chamber historically has gone to great lengths to surprise the honorees. Was the award something you were expecting?
A: Not at all. I’ve gone to the chamber banquet for years, and I always enjoy it. I think it’s one of the great premier events of the community, and I always tried to handicap who I think it’s going to be. I thought I had who it was going to be, and I went there expecting that. … I’d rather not say who, to protect the innocent. I sure didn’t expect it.

Q: SRC Holdings Corp. founder Jack Stack was given the award when he was 51. Bass Pro Shops founder John L. Morris received the honor when he was 52. At 53, how does it feel to be among the youngest of winners?
A: It is such a great honor. And I would say every award winner would probably … dispute whether he or she deserved it or not. I think I truly understand the term grace more now. … To have it at this age is great and as one of my friends said, in some people, it’s a recognition looking back over their life. And this one, maybe it’s emphasis to try to do more.

Q: Of all the community programs you’ve been involved with, which stands out?
A: The organization that I’ve continued to gravitate toward for 20 years has been The Kitchen. I went through The Kitchen in 1990 or 1991, actually leading a group of high school students. I walked in the door with students, and I walked out the door forever changed. Not only was I a banker to The Kitchen, but I was on the board and was president back in the 1990s and (I’m) now back on the board and was president a couple of years ago. … I think I’ll continue to stay involved and volunteer however I can.

Q: Why did The Kitchen make such an impact?
A: It’s just seeing the needs of people who may have had bad luck or are in need, whatever the circumstance, and The Kitchen’s approach to that with dignity, with service and, I think, modeling Christ in all they do. … Sister Lorraine (Biebel) has been a mentor and model to me. I was a recovering banker; that’s what I consider myself. I was in banking 30 years, and I can tell you, I went on the board, and got involved looking at numbers and thinking you know, you have to have these things to make the profit and losses work, and Sister Lorraine certainly demonstrated to me the role that faith played in any organization. I learned to believe more in what could be than in what was down in black and white and on paper.

Q: During your banking life, you coordinated 15 banks in 2008 to assist with financing for the regional crime lab in Springfield. What was the secret of getting so many banks behind you?
A: I grew up in a banking family, my father was president of the bank in Aurora and I wanted to go into banking because I saw the difference he made and the bank made in the community. … I think our community has been blessed with very community-minded banks that are willing to lay down their competitiveness to achieve a community goal. … So we had a history and precedent of bringing banks together for community projects and the crime lab was one that was so needed in our area. Law enforcement was waiting up to two years on evidence and that did not do justice to the victims. … I approached the city to see if there was any way that maybe banks could help, and they were so receptive to that. So we sent out invitations to all the banks, and the banks saw the need and all came together to really fill that missing piece of financing to make that a reality.