The Mexico Area Chamber of Commerce presented awards to community leaders at its dinner and recognition banquet last Friday. With a storied history and an all-star list of current recipients, here’s a look back at the folks who were honored in the past.

Col. C. R. Stribling Jr. Community Service Award

1973,  Lowell L. Hagan, 1974, C. R. Stribling Jr., 1975, Warner Williams, 1976, William S. Lowe, 1977, John G. Baker, 1978, Robert M. White II, 1979, Margery N. Gantt, 1980, C. R. Stribling III, 1981, G. Andy Runge, 1982, Rev. Robert Collins, 1983, Charles Cockelreas, 1984, Katherine (Kitty) Seigfreid, 1985, J. Michael McGannon, 1986, Larry Webber, 1987, Robert H. Marty, 1988, Jerry C. Brown, 1989, Harold Enslen, 1990, George Irion, 1991, Bill Williams, 1992, Robert C. McIntosh, 1993, Connie and Barbara Pickering, 1994, Mike Pohlmeyer, 1995, C. Craig Richards, 1996, John R. Cline, 1997, Dan Erdel, 1998, Nancy Ekern, 1999, Steve and Laura Erdel, 2000, Steve Hagan, 2001, Tim and Lura Williams, 2002, Bruce A. Oliver, 2003, Ron Loesch, 2004, Carol Gallaher, 2005, Ronald J. Hopkins, 2006, Don Decker, 2007, Lou Leonatti, 2008, Virginia Robertson, 2009, John E. Dial, 2010, Helen B. and Robert M. Fenlon, 2011, George Huffman, 2012, Robby Miller, 2013, Jack Creason, 2014, Tony Robertson, 2015, Chris Miller, 2016, Jim Dye, 2017, Chuck Rentschler, 2018, Josh Hanley, 2019, Melody Farnen, 2020, Deb Haag

Andy Runge Ambassador Award

1973, Arthur Simmons, 1974, Robert M. White II, 1975, Christopher S. Bond, 1976, no recipient, 1977, William S. Lowe, 1978, C. R. Stribling III, 1979, G. Andy Runge, 1980, Sharon Farrah, 1981, Ned Rodes, 1982, no recipient, 1983, Eddie Sydenstricker, 1984, Connie/Lee Ann Sydenstricker, 1985, MMA Fusileers, Band and Color Guard, 1986, Dr. Thomas M. Hodges, 1987, H. Peter Ekern, 1988, Alan Woods, 1989, Miss MO Scholarship Pageant, 1990, Debbye Turner and Kuniyasu Oki, 1991, Lewis Melahn, 1992, Kathy Craghead, 1993, Ron Whittaker  and Ricky Whittaker, 1994, Judy Dye, 1995, Linda Carlson, 1996, Gary Barnett, 1997, Mexico Bandits, 1998, Tyronn Lue, 1999, Jim Atkinson, 2000, Chad Harding, 2001, Chris Parrish, 2002, Lieutenant Governor Joe Maxwell, 2003, Zenith Aircraft, 2004, Charlene Finck, 2005, Sydenstricker Angus Genetics/ Eddie Sydenstricker and Ben Eggers, 2006, Christopher S. (Kit) Bond, 2007, Donald Tomnitz, 2008, AMC Cancer Screening, 2009, Representative Steve Hobbs, 2010, Gold Crest Distributing, 2011, Joe May, 2012, Jill Molli, 2013, Prim Siripipat, 2014, M&M Golf Cars, 2015, Missouri Military Academy, 2016, Tyronn Lue, 2017, Presser Arts Center, 2018, Dr. Joe Corrado, 2019, KXEO/KWWR Radio, 2020, Janet’s Dance Studio

Civic Award

1973, Mexico Jaycees, 1974, Jaycees and Optimists, 1975, Jaycees and Jaycee Wives, 1976, League of Women Voters, 1977, Mexico Kiwanis Club, 1978, A.M.C. Auxiliary, 1979, Mexico Lions Club, 1980, Optimists Club, 1981, Jaycees, 1982, Kiwanis Club, 1983, Audrain County Historical Society, 1984, Mexico Civic Club, 1985, Mid-MO Concert Assoc., 1986, Mexico Lions Club, 1987, Knights of Columbus, 1988, Mexico Rotary Club, 1989, Mexico Jaycees, 1990, Mexico Elks Lodge, 1991, Altrusa of Mexico, 1992, Presser Hall Restoration, 1993, T.P.A., 1994, Garfield Drill Team, 1995, Mexico A+ For Education, 1996, Salute To Literacy/ Newspapers In Education, 1997, Special Friends, 1998, MHS Key Club, 1999, YMCA, 2000, Audrain Habitat for Humanity, 2001, Mexico Elks Lodge, 2002, The Handi-Shop, Inc., 2003, Mexico Area Community Theatre, 2004, Audrain Medical Center Auxiliary, 2005, Mexico High School Booster Club, 2006, Mexico Parks & Recreation, 2007, 4-H Foundation, 2008, George Huffman, 2009, Little Dixie Shrine Club, 2010, Mexico Women’s Club - GFWC, 2011, Missouri Military Academy, 2012, Ameren Missouri, 2013, Mexico Community Health Ministries Team, 2014, Mexico YMCA, 2015, Laura Miller George Help Center, 2016, Audrain Tennis Association, 2017, Arthur Center, 2018, MACC Mexico, 2019, NE Community Service Agency, 2020, Audrain County Health Dept.

Excellence In Tourism Award

1994, Miss Missouri Scholarship Pageant, 1995, Missouri Military Academy, 1996, The Barbary Coast, 1997, Audrain County Historical Society, 1998, Zenith Aircraft Company, 1999, Arthur Hills Golf Club, 2000, Mexico Jaycees, 2001, Mexico Tiger Town, 2002, Audrain County Historical Society, 2003, “A Walk Back in Time”, 2004, Audrain County Area Genealogical Society, 2005, Village Square Association, 2006, Mexico Elks Lodge #919, 2007, Presser Performing Arts Center, 2008, Homestead Hearth, Mexico Sewing Center, Sticky Wicket, 2009, Miss Missouri Scholarship Pageant, 2010, Mexico Community Foundation, Salute to Veterans’, Air Show, 2011, Mexico Parks & Recreation Dept., 2012, Paul Baum WBIT, 2013, Gold Crest Distributing, 2014, Zenith Aircraft, 2015, Jim and Ann Stubblefield, 2016, Simmons Stable Preservation, 2017, Mexico Young Farmers, 2018, Hickory Ridge Orchard,2019, MHS Extra Curricular Activities, 2020, Village Square Association

Philanthropic Achievement Award

1989, Josephine B. and Allen P. Green, J.B. Arthur, Roy Creasey, Juliet F. Hulen, 1990, Edward French Foundation, 1991, Charles Cockelreas, 1992, Orma Mackey, 1993, Mary Powell Davis, 1994, Miriam Arnold Edmonston, 1995, Steve Sparks, 1996, Colonel Charles R. Stribling III, 1997, Gerald and Doris Kelley, 1998, Anna Margaret Griffin, 1999, Commerce Bank share and  W.T. Kemper Foundations, 2000, James Gallop, 2001, Paul Koelling, 2002, The Beatrice Snyder Foundation, 2003, Helen B. Maupin, 2004, W. Basil and Nina B. Leach Charitable Trust, 2005, Warren C. and Tina Smith, 2006, Ben Beach, William Aaron Haas, and Gerald and Margaret Jordan, 2007, No recipient, 2008, The Stribling Foundation, AMC and Clinics, 2009, Dr. John C. Hagan, III, 2010, J.B. Arthur Foundation, 2011, Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Sydenstricker, 2012, Ralph Roth Trust, 2013, Colonel Charles Stribling III, 2014, Alan and Susan Atkins, 2015, Dudley Miller, 2016, Marjorie Graf, 2017, James Gallop, 2018, Nancy Ekern, 2019, Don Decker, 2020, Max Kennen

Educator of the Year Award

1995, Mary White Littrell, 1996, Sister Ruth Ann Klauser, SSND, 1997, Jan Dubbert, 1998,  laine Bolton Hansett, 1999, Cheryl Bell, 2000, Barry Hacker, 2001, J.C. Pollard, 2002, Mary Meyer, 2003, Mark Murphy, 2004, Velda McKenzie, 2005, Keith Louder, 2006, Vicki Maassen, 2007, Nancy Oliver, 2008, Jennifer Pascoe, 2009, Lou Mongler, 2010, Janice Kleinsorge, 2011, Sue Nixon, 2012, Sara Given, 2013, Nancy Baker, 2014, Kelly Whalen, 2015, Jennifer Silver, 2016, Michelle Whanger, 2017, Bryan Green, 2018, Dan Quinlan, 2019, Darlene Shopher, 2020, Peggy Reynard

President’s Award

1977, Gary Evans, 1978, Tom Stapleton, 1979, Robert M. White II, 1980, Gary Eide, 1981, no recipient, 1982, Jim Dye, 1983, Jerry Brown, 1984, Bob Marty, 1985, Max Thomson, 1986, Mark Pentz, 1987, Tom Herron, 1988, Yoshiaki Shibusawa, 1989, Vince Fuemmeler, 1990, Mike Pohlmeyer, 1991, Larry Webber, 1992, E.J. "Bud" Hotop, 1993, City of Mexico employees, 1994, Tim and Lura Williams/Chris Miller, 1995, Kurt Lamb, 1996, Tanna Parish, 1997, Roy Kent, 1998, Charles Jansen, 1999, Steve Hagan, 2000, Larry Huffman, 2001, Advanced Technology Center, 2002, Dan Botts, 2003, James W. Gallaher, 2004, Jaye A. Jackson and Frank Cordie, 2005, Bobette Balser Wilson, 2006, Jim Hickman and Larry Hickman, 2007, Wayne and Virginia Robertson, 2008, Connie and Eddie Sydenstricker, 2009, Major General Robert Flanagan, 2010, Frank and Judy Cordie, 2011, Harold Enslen, 2012, Jack Creason, 2013, Mexico Jaycees, 2014, Ron Hopkins, 2015, Kevin Freeman, 2016, Bright Futures Mexico, 2017, Dan Erdel, 2018, Marjorie Graf, 2019, Robby and Cara Miller, 2020, Todd Yager