Ken Carter receives Springfieldian honor

Ken Carter, chairman of Commerce Bank in Springfield, is the 1999 Springfieldian. The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce presents the Springfieldian Award each year to recognize "an individual's outstanding leadership and participation over time in civic affairs, and untiring effort for the welfare of the community," according to a release from the chamber. The award has been given annually since 1957.

Jan Horton, 1998 Springfieldian, presented Carter with the award Jan. 22 at the chamber's annual meeting.

Carter is a lifelong resident of Springfield and has been involved in many leadership positions in the community. Carter served as president of the chamber's board of directors, the Partnership Industrial Center Administrative Council and the Springfield Business and Development Corporation.

Carter "has been a longtime leader in the effort to strengthen local businesses, create jobs and attract new companies to the Springfield area," the release stated.

"Over the past three decades, Ken has devoted his talent, ability and energy to building his business, but even more significantly, building our community," said Drury College President John Moore, in the release. Moore was one of many people who nominated Carter for the award.

Carter has been involved in many civic groups. He has served on the Drury College Board of Trustees, Community Foundation of the Ozarks Board of Directors (immediate past president), Ozarks Public Television Board of Directors (chairman) and United Way of the Ozarks Campaign. He was also a charter board member of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Missouri, and he has served on boards for Cox Medical Center, Junior Achievement and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Springfield.

Mary Kay Meek, 1992 Springfieldian, said of Carter: "Ken's footprints are on virtually every important endeavor in our community."

Carter joined Commerce Bank in 1964 as a teller, and held several positions in the bank before becoming president and chief executive officer in 1983. In 1998, he became chairman of Commerce Bank in Springfield.

He is a 1960 graduate of Central High School and received a bachelor's degree in business administration and economics from Drury College.

Carter also spent three years in the U.S. Navy as an officer stationed in southeast Asia.

Carter is married to Patricia (Pat) Carter, owner of Century Pines Residential Care Facility in Ozark. He has four children: Scott Carter, Kelly Thompson, Cynthia Quimby and Justin Wallace.

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