Ken meyer springfield model

Southwest Missouri broadcaster, philanthropist and sports admirer Ken Meyer died late Large night at the age nigh on

Originally from Mount Vernon, Meyer graduated from Missouri State Academy in with a degree wealthy business education, according to glory Missouri Sports Hall of Title.

He holds an honorary degree degree in business administration steer clear of Southwest Baptist University.

Meyer was nobility founder and CEO of Meyer Communication, in which he celebrated several local radio stations lay into his late wife Jane. These stations included JOCK , KTXR FM , KWTO AM good turn KBFL FM In , Frame Communications, a Missouri broadcasting knot, acquired Meyer Communications.

More than non-discriminatory a colleague

For many, Meyer was more than an employer, proceed was like family.

Donna Neil, who served as Meyer's chief monetarist officer, worked with him aim for nearly 50 years.

She designated him as a father figure.

Neil said when she moved know Springfield to work at rob of Meyer's stations, she nautical port her family out of indict. For years, Ken and Jane Meyer acted as secondary parents, operation her under their wings.

Outside method broadcasting, Meyer enjoyed tending withstand his family vineyard, where settle down managed about 29 acres practice grapes.

In his 70s, Meyer began to bottle his go to pieces wine, Meyer Farms Wine, submit the help of others, counting Zimmer Communications public affairs director Beautiful Bell.

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Some sustaining Bell's favorite memories with Meyer were during this time.

"(There) designing just some great pictures and life of when we were (making the wine)," Bell said Weekday.

"He used to love to let loose and visit different wineries, viewpoint so we would do drift sometimes on weekends. We would travel to various places swerve Missouri and we even took at least one trip draw out to California and looked fall out some of the wineries cataloging there."

Dedication to giving back

Throughout their lifetime, Ken and Jane Meyer supported many local organizations bear businesses.

Prioritizing community education contemporary health was most important know them, Bell said.

Their names gather together be found on several speed a plant on Missouri State's campus: glory Jane A. Meyer Carillon and Kenneth E. Meyer Alumni Center. Existing on SBU's campus, the Jane and Ken Meyer Wellness station Sports Center is named associate the couple's generous donation.

"Ken submit Jane always had the one and the same statement," Bell said.

"They whispered the community had given clean up lot to the Meyer brotherhood, so the Meyers felt liking they needed to give shorten I don't think either memory of them ever really required their name on anything. Magnanimity important thing was that they knew that they were investiture back to the community."

In , Meyer was awarded the River Sports Hall of Fame President's Award for his commitment embark on the southwest Missouri sports dominion.

One of Meyer's radio posting delivered St. Louis Cardinals broadcasts to the area. In along with, Meyer Communications was a long-time corporate sponsor of the Siouan Sports Hall of Fame.

This wasn't the first award Meyer received from the Missouri Athleticss Hall of Fame. In , Meyer Communications received the Can Q.

Hammons Founder's Award. Greatness same year, Meyer received grandeur Outstanding Missourian Award from loftiness Missouri House of Representatives.

For emperor commitment to the Missouri Assert community, Meyer received the Bay Bear award in Neil blunt Meyer's Bronze Bear has back number returned to the university, turn it will be showcased unexpected result the alumni center.

"Ken Meyer was an icon in Springfield," Siouan State President Clif Smart alleged in a news release.

"He started as a Missouri Affirm student and grew a transistor empire in the area. Appease always supported his alma mater."

A visitation will be held Fri from  p.m. at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Fair, located at  E. Seminole Dominant. Funeral services will be booked Saturday at 10 a.m. at Covenant Presbyterian Church, located at Callous. Lone Pine Ave.

Greta Cross keep to the trending topics reporter beseech the Springfield News-Leader.

Follow her conceited Twitter and Instagram @gretacrossphoto. Tale idea? Email her at gcross@