<strong>12</strong> I NEWS I By CATHY LENNY December <strong>13</strong>, 20<strong>23</strong> MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE Champions in Action was the theme for 35th annual Excellence in Community Development Awards presented by Progress 64 West. The awards program honors individuals and organizations that have made extraordinary efforts to improve the region. First up was Chesterfield City Administrator Mike Geisel. “He’s been a champion in action in every step taken for the city of Chesterfield,” announced emcee Marc Cox, host of the Marc Cox Show on 97.1 FM Talk radio. “He’s been there since its incorporation in 1988. Through the years, Mike has championed, managed and protected the city and its citizens’ best interests.” Geisel started out as an assistant city engineer. Then, he became the city’s director of public works, director of public service, and finally its city administrator. “His fingerprints are on just about everything the city of Chesterfield has ever done,” Cox said. Next up was Stuart Duncan, executive director of Chesterfield Sports Association, a 97,000-square-foot sports complex that features nine basketball courts, which convert to 18 volleyball courts – and can host tournaments of every level and size for a range of sports that include gymnastics, martial arts and more. Located on the western edge of Chesterfield Valley, Cox noted that the center is bringing a lot of people to the greater St. Louis area. “Stuart had the vision to build a worldclass recreational facility that’s become an asset to the St. Louis region by helping to increase access to and participation in recreational activities, improve health and wellness in young athletes, and promote economic development in the area,” Cox said. Located in St. Charles County, Boone Center Inc. (BCI) also received an Excellence in Community Development award for helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities find meaningful employment. “For over 60 years they’ve been working on this,” Cox said of BCI. “They meet people where they are today, where they can be tomorrow and (in) all of their journeys in between.” As of early December, BCI had 217 people employed through its organizational employment program, BCI Packaging, which offers contract packaging and light manufacturing to companies around the world. In November, jobs completed by the packaging team received a 99.6% quality rating. Additionally, in 20<strong>23</strong>, BCI’s competitive employment program celebrated 30 successful placements and recent graduates of its Skills Center earned an average starting wage of $17.50. A nonprofit, BCI’s efforts are made possible by corporate and community donors. The result is a more diverse, inclusive community that gives everyone the chance to know the satisfaction that comes from a job well done. Speaking of jobs well done, that’s exactly what happens each November when The Brass Rail Steakhouse serves up its community Thanksgiving dinner. “Since 20<strong>13</strong>, the restaurant has served thousands of area residents with a complete Thanksgiving meal delivered straight to their doors,” Cox said in announcing the restaurant’s award. “Under the leadership of restaurant owners Ryan and April Hammer, an army of volunteers help deliver food across a 60-mile radius (from the restaurant’s O’Fallon location).” To make those meals possible, The Brass Rail also relies on the generosity of community partners, giving witness to the positive things that can happen when businesses and community members come together to solve problems and affect change. Perhaps no one knows that better than Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Doris Fiddmont Frazier. “Doris is rightfully considered one of St. Louis’ most loved, well respected and cherished citizens,” said Progress 64 West President Debbie Shaw-Franke. “Doris’ evangelism, community activism and musical education have offered her opportunities to participate in historic moments, hold distinguished positions and receive many recognitions.” Noting that Frasier is a “nationally and globally applauded singer,” Shaw-Franke commented that she “ walks in the sunshine and never in the shadow, as heartfully sung on one of her albums.” Frazier is a community leader who has worked with legislators at all levels of government. In the early days of western growth in St. Louis County, she worked for then-St. Louis County Executive Maurice Stewart. Frazier knew all about western St. Louis County, having lived there for most of her life. She and her late husband, Clifford, raised their six children in Westland Acres, in the northeast area of Wildwood near Chesterfield. Historically an African-American community, Westland Acres was founded by William West, a freedman who was one of the area’s first settlers and Clifford Frazier’s great-grandfather. West purchased about <strong>13</strong>3 acres of land in 1879. History is important to Frazier, who played an instrumental role in the @MIDRIVERS_NEWS MIDRIVERSNEWSMAGAZINE.COM Annual Progress 64 West luncheon honors ‘champions in action’ The Progress 64 West 20<strong>23</strong> award winners (from left) are The Brass Rail owner April Hammer, Chesterfield Sports Association Executive Director Stuart Duncan, Chesterfield City Administrator Mike Geisel and Troy Compardo, CEO of Boone Center Inc., with Progress 64 West president Debbie Shaw Franke (far left) and executive director Rachel Treppler (far right). (Rob Shirley Photography) Lifetime Achievement Award winner Doris Fiddmont Frazier with Progress 64 West President Debbie Shaw-Franke and broadcaster/emcee Marc Cox. county’s recent acquisition of a oneroom schoolhouse, African Schoolhouse #4, that has been rebuilt in the Historic Village at Faust Park. More recently she advocated for St. Louis County adopting the state-passed real estate tax freeze for senior citizens. Whether helping to establish Circle of Concern, getting a distinguished citizen award from the American Cancer Society, or volunteering as a human rights commissioner for the city of Chesterfield, Shaw-Franke said no challenge has ever been too big for Frazier. In honor of her 92nd birthday, both St. Louis County and Wildwood named May 6 as Doris Fiddmont Frazier Day. Shaw-Franke, daughter of the late Tom Shaw, who helped found Progress 64 West, noted that Frazier was at the first luncheon meeting for Progress 64 West, along with “her husband and best friend, Cliff Frazier Sr., who was instrumental in launching the organization.” In her acceptance speech, Fraiser said she has always been interested in progress. “We can all acknowledge we’ve made some progress here,” she said. “But there’s one thing where we’ve not made much progress and that’s my community, Westland Acres.” Today, except for a few acres, the land that once belonged to William West is still owned by his heirs, including Frazier. Since the incorporation of Wildwood in 1995, the community is shared by two cities: Wildwood and Chesterfield. It was designated as a Wildwood Historic District in 2005. Although the surrounding areas have been developed, Westland Acres is still without amenities such as water, gas or sewage, and no entrance from any of the surrounding community subdivisions, Frazier said. “So the question remains: Why haven’t we been able to accomplish this? I hope to finally see my community become a beautiful, thriving community.” Ever the activist, Frazier used the opportunity to speak directly to community leaders. “Can you and will you help me achieve one of the greatest desires of my lifetime?” she asked. Other speakers at the banquet included St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann and keynote speaker Michael Staenberg, president of the Staenberg Group. The awards ceremony also included the presentation of The Progress 64 Entrepreneurial Scholarships.
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