Local businesspeople chosen to receive Missourian Award

Eight local businesspeople are among 14 chosen to receive The Missourian Award in 2012.

Recipients will be honored during the 18th annual Missouri Award ceremony, to be held Sept. 22 in Jefferson City, according to Ralph Slavens, president of The Missourian Award Inc. The award recognizes native Missourians and, in some cases, longtime state residents who have made significant contributions to the state in the fields of civics, business, arts or politics, according to TheMissourianAward.org.

Local recipients are:

• Jerald Andrews, president and executive director of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame;
• Dr. John “Bucky” Buckner III, a surgeon with Ferrell-Duncan Clinic;
• George Carden of the George Carden Circus International;
• Dr. Jose Dominguez, a surgeon with Ferrell-Duncan Clinic;
• Jim D. Morris, founder of Morris Oil Co. Inc. and co-founder of Care to Learn;
• Aurora attorney Walter Pettit Jr. of Pettit & Pettit PC;
• Doug Pitt, co-owner of ServiceWorld Computer Center and co-founder of Care to Learn; and
• Edwin "Cookie" Rice of Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Co.

Other recipients are:

• Carolyn Caldwell, CEO of Independence-based Centerpoint Medical Center;
• Kansas City attorney R. Denise Henning;
• Richard Navarre, retired, former president and chief commercial officer of St. Louis-based Peabody Energy Corp.;
• Kansas City physician Dr. Bert Park;
• John Sondag, president of AT&T Missouri in St. Louis; and
• Susan Trautman, executive director of St. Louis-based Great Rivers Greenway District.