Prolific Springfield businessman dies

Photo courtesy Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home

Errett Sechler Jr.

Errett Sechler Jr., a Springfield developer and business owner who also helped establish local banks, died last week at age 98.

A funeral was held Dec. 9 at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home after Sechler died Dec. 5, according to GormanScharpf.com.

Sechler’s ventures included Sechler Electric Inc., Jimm's Steakhouse & Pub, Plaza Towers, hotels, subdivisions and bank charters, according to an obituary provided to Springfield Business Journal. Sechler Electric continues to be operated by Ray and Danny Downs, and in 2016, Jimm Swafford became sole owner of Jimm's Steakhouse after he and Sechler opened the restaurant in 2009.

Sechler and his wife, Pat, were original shareholders of Liberty Bank, which was purchased by Simmons Bank in 2015. He also was an original shareholder and director at First City National Bank, which opened in 1983. It later sold and now operates under U.S. Bank, according to the obituary.

Among his development operations, Sechler had financial interests in or helped develop the Chapel Hills, Southland Village and Cooper Estates subdivisions. He also built multiple strip centers, according to the obituary.