Tom Carlson, who served seven terms as mayor of Springfield to make him the longest to hold that position, was named the 2014 Springfieldian during the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting Friday.
Carlson was first elected as mayor 1987-93 before serving a second stint 2001-09. Carlson
decided against running for another mayoral campaign in 2009 after more than two decades of council service - more than half of that time spent as mayor.
“He had the discipline to focus on a small number of problems - economic development and quality of life were at the top of that list - and he understood that those two were intertwined,” said former City Manager Tom Finnie, who was the 2002 Springfieldian, in a news release.
The chamber recognized Carlson for his leadership role in the creation and support of the city's Economic Development Partnership, which now comprises the chamber, city of Springfield, Greene County, City Utilities and the Springfield Business Development Corp. The partnership led to the creation of the east and west Springfield Partnership Industrial Centers, the release said.
A Springfield native, Carlson last year was involved in the sale of 331 South Ave. to Great Southern Bank for its downtown branch relocation from 430 South Ave. As part of the sale, Carlson and business partner Mark Gardner were to continue operating Mid America Management as a tenant out of the building, according to
Springfield Business Journal archives.
Carlson earned his bachelor's degree in journalism in 1975 from George Washington University and his juris doctorate in 1979 from University of Missouri-Kansas City., according to the release.
The chamber began honoring Springfieldians annually in 1957 with the selection of Durward G. Hall, and last year, chose Gordon Elliott, CEO of Elliott Lodging and Oak Ridge Properties.
Past honorees:
1957 – Durward G. Hall
1958 – Ed Baxter
1959 – Eugene F. Johnson
1960 – Lester E. Cox
1961 – G. Pearson Ward
1962 – Max Van Hook
1963 – E. L. Anderson
1964 – Thomas H. Baird Jr.
1965 – E. A. Martin Jr.
1966 – J.H.G. Cooper
1967 – James A. Jeffries Sr.
1968 – Flavius Freeman
1969 – Don C. Dailey
1970 – G. Frank Knox
1971 – William E. Everheart
1972 – Dr. L.E. Meador
1973 – Del E. Caywood
1974 – Thomas F. Zimmerman
1975 – Dr. Joe Kuklenski Jr.
1976 – James F. Payne
1977 – James K. Cook
1978 – John K. Hulston
1979 – William V. Turner
1980 – John Q. Hammons
1981 – Lester L. Cox
1982 – C. Arch Bay
1983 – Ralph Foster
1984 – Bill Henderson
1985 – Gene Everett
1986 – Lee McLean
1987 – Don Wessel
1988 – Ed Deck
1989 – Dr. John E. Moore Jr.
1990 – Rev. Dorsey E. Levell
1991 – Ray F. Aton
1992 – Mary Kay Meek
1993 – Michael J. Williamson
1994 – Chris W. Nattinger
1995 – Robert E. Roundtree
1996 – Ben A. Parnell
1997 – Charlie O’Reilly
1998 – Jan Horton
1999 – Kenneth L. Carter
2000 – Jack Stack
2001 – John L. Morris
2002 – Tom Finnie
2003 – Roseann Bentley
2004 – Robert Spence
2005 – Jim Anderson
2006 – Ralph K. Manley
2007 – Kenneth E. Meyer
2008 – Annie Busch
2009 – Bill Foster
2010 – Brian Fogle
2011 – William H. Darr
2012 – Mary Beth O'Reilly
2013 – Gordon Elliott[[In-content Ad]]
