The Hall of Carthage Heroes Oversight Committee is pleased to announce the election of six Carthage Heroes to the Class of 2019.
Founded in 2012, the Hall of Carthage Heroes, located inside the Fair Acres Family YMCA, is the fulfillment of a dream of Marvin VanGilder and others to recognize and honor Carthaginians whose lives or accomplishments have brought credit and recognition to Carthage, and who are worthy of emulation by today’s citizens. It honors heroes past and present, citizens of distinction and outstanding athletes & teams.
The Class of 2019 was chosen by an independent selection committee of five people, representing various Carthage civic organizations, from nominations submitted by the general public.
The Heroes of the Class of 2019 are:
MARJORIE S. BULL, Civic Leader – Marjorie is a life-long resident and civic leader in Jasper County. In 1964, she started a public career as a volunteer to the Jasper County Republican Party. Between 1967 and 1989 in Jasper County, she served as Deputy Assessor, Deputy Treasurer and then Deputy Clerk. In 1989, Marjorie was appointed by then Governor John Ashcroft to fill an unexpired term as Jasper County Clerk. In 1990, she was elected to the post of Jasper County Clerk, 100 years after Annie Baxter was the first woman elected to Jasper County public office in 1890. She was re-elected in 1994 and continued as Jasper County Clerk until her retirement in 1998. In 1990, Marjorie was the first recipient of the Annie Baxter Award, recognizing an outstanding woman in local government. She has been an active member of Carthage Kiwanis Club, a ladies quilt circle which has made 2,000+ quilts to support babies and children in Jasper County, Eastern Star as a Worthy Matron, Eastern Jasper County Historic Sites Association, and Jasper County Cemetery Association. Marjorie also volunteered her time and talents to preserve the history of Jasper County by serving as a coordinator for the Records and Research Center. She even shares her skills as a research genealogist to those searching for family history in Carthage and Jasper County. Marjorie’s life-long and ongoing commitment to protect and preserve Jasper County is noteworthy.
LOWELL DAVIS, Artist & Citizen of Distinction – Lowell grew up in Red Oak and attended Mark Twain and Carthage High Schools. Ironically, after failing English and art his sophomore year at Carthage High, Lowell dropped out to join the Air Force and served during the Algerian War. Following his military service and a career as an advertising art director, Lowell returned to a farm outside Carthage in 1974 to farm and pursue his own art full time. Well known for his art depicting farm life in America, most especially in Jasper County, Lowell is often referred to as the “Norman Rockwell of Rural Art”. His artistic works include paintings, figurines, bronzes, metal sculptures and art storybooks that reflect small town life in rural Missouri in simpler and often sweeter times. Among Lowell’s greatest contributions to the area is his recreation of his childhood hometown of Red Oak. Red Oak II is a charming step back into a small rural town, complete with the original Phillips 66 gas station, general store, schoolhouse, blacksmith shop and the Belle Starr home he preserved, moved and restored on the property. Thousands of visitors traveling Route 66 make a special stop to visit Red Oak II and sometimes have the pleasure to run into Lowell at his home there. He has also created numerous creative metal sculptures and signs around Carthage, highlighting various businesses, schools and activities of our community. Lowell was recognized as “Artist of the Year” at the 2019 Carthage Chamber of Commerce Banquet.
MICAH OSBORNE, Swimming – Competing for Carthage High School, Micah became one of the top breaststroke swimmers in the state, winning two Missouri State Swimming Championships. In his first year at Carthage as a Sophomore, Micah set new school swim team records in the 100 Breaststroke, 100 Freestyle, 100 Backstroke, 200 Individual Medley, 200 Medley Relay, 200 Free Relay & 400 Free Relay. During his junior year, Micah broke two of his school swimming records, lost only once all season & qualified for state in five individual events. Allowed to compete in only two events at state, he won the 100 Breaststroke in the 1998 Missouri State High School Swimming Championships and finished 8th in the state in the 200 Individual Medley. Micah scored 21 points, giving Carthage High School enough points for 23rd place in those all-class state championships. In 1999 as a senior, Micah again broke his own school record in the 100 Breaststroke and was the repeat MSHSAA Champion in that event. His 1999 Carthage High 100 breaststroke record stood until 2018. At Carthage, Micah was a 3-year letter winner in swimming, as well as in track & field, qualifying for sectionals in the 110 high hurdles in 1999. Micah went on to Missouri State in 2000 and was a 4-year letter winner in swimming, helping the men’s team claim the Missouri Valley Conference Championship during 2 seasons.
FREDERICK WILLIAM STEADLEY, Industrialist – F. W. “Fred” Steadley came to Carthage as a jeweler in 1890, and died in 1928, as “the city’s greatest industrial leader,” according to his obituary in The Carthage Press. He moved to Carthage when he purchased A. J. Kirke’s jewelry store at 303 S. Main St. (now part of Carthage Deli). He was also elected Jasper County Recorder, serving a four-year term. By 1899 Fred became interested in the quarry business and became manager of Carthage Quarry Company in 1907. Fred eventually consolidated ownership and changed the name to F. W. Steadley & Company. He was a pioneer in realizing the value of and pushing the interior finishing uses of Carthage marble, which largely revolutionized the industry. He became the undisputed leader in the Carthage marble industry, growing his business to about 300 acres, which became known as “The Big Quarry”. In 1927, Fred sold The Big Quarry to Carthage Marble Corporation. Fred also became a stockholder in Carthage Superior Spring Bed Mfg. Co. in 1907, and by the early 1920’s had obtained full control of that business, changing the name to Carthage Spring Bed Company. As his health began to fail and his spring bed premises was destroyed by fire, one of Fred’s last acts in business was to buy the Juvenile Shoe Company plant just a week before he died. At his death Fred was probably the largest individual holder of business real estate in Carthage. His estate was passed to his wife and sons, and later became a part of The Steadley Trust.
SUSAN WENDLETON, Citizen of Distinction – Susan had a prestigious 23-year career with Carthage Water & Electric Plant where she quickly moved from cashier to executive administrative assistant to the General Manager. At CW&EP, she spearheaded a loyal volunteer group of employees to become involved with children at Columbian Elementary School through the Bright Futures Carthage program. Susan can still be found most mornings giving high fives, hugs and smiles as students arrive at Columbian. Her desire is that each child will feel loved with consistent encouragement from caring adults. Susan now serves as a Connection Care staff member at Carthage Nazarene. She’s served as Board President of Carthage Chamber of Commerce, Carthage Caring Communities and Soroptimist International of Carthage. At St. Luke’s Nursing Center, she served as Board Secretary and has played piano for weekly church services for 43+ years. Susan currently serves as VP of the Board of Innovative Industries and on the Bright Futures Site Council for Columbian. Her desire to serve others has spurred her on to acts of kindness throughout her life, including keeping her nephew’s two young boys while he was deployed in the military, an act for which she received a Red Cross Hero Award. Susan’s honors include Carthage Area United Way Spirit of Giving Award, Athena Award and Carthage Christmas Parade Grand Marshall. In 2019, she was named Citizen of the Year at the Carthage Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet. Susan truly has a servant’s heart and Carthage is proud to call her a hero for her life-long dedication to bettering our community.
FELIX E. WRIGHT, Industry Leader & Citizen of Distinction – Felix began a career at Leggett & Platt, Inc. in 1959 when he was hired by Harry Mack Cornell Jr. as customer service manager at the Ennis, Texas spring operations plant. He later worked his way through the ranks at various plants and divisions across the country. Felix moved to Carthage in 1975 when he was appointed Senior Vice President & Group Manager of bedding components. By 1979, Felix was Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of L&P and became President in 1985. He served on the Board of Directors from 1999 until his retirement in 2008, serving as Chief Executive Officer from 1999 until 2006, and as Chairman of the Board from 2002 until May 2008. Felix authored 14 points of the Leggett Culture, which emphasized the importance of ethical behavior, honesty and customer service, and he believed that great leaders must be great listeners. Felix served the industry as president of the Suppliers Council of the National Association of Bedding Manufacturers and the American Innerspring Manufacturers Association, and was elected to the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame. Locally, Felix was a member of the Board of Directors of Boatmen’s Bank of Carthage, served on the Advisory Board of the Steadley Memorial Trust for 25 years and was one of the first board members of Carthage Community Foundation, serving for 8 years. He has generously supported the Fair Acres Family YMCA, Mercy McCune-Brooks Hospital Chapel, Carthage R-9 School District Multi-purpose Athletic Building and many other organizations and causes in the community.
These 6 heroes join 74 other Carthaginians inducted to the Hall since 2012.
The installation ceremony for this year’s class will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, November 23, 2019 at the Fair Acres Family YMCA. Family, friends, past recipients, and community members are encouraged to attend. For full biographies and photos of the inductees, as well as information on nominating someone for the Class of 2020, visit the Hall website at hallofcarthageheroes.org.
About Hall of Carthage Heroes
Established in 2012, Hall of Carthage Heroes is a distinctive honor for citizens of Carthage, Missouri who have exhibited the highest qualities, in both their professional and personal lives, in the betterment of Carthage and our country. The Hall has two divisions, one to recognize pioneers & citizens of distinction, the other to honor outstanding athletes. New nominations are accepted each year and an anonymous committee made of citizens from various Carthage civic groups selects the class of honorees. Learn more at hallofcarthageheroes.org and follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/hallofcarthageheroes. Gifts to support Hall of Carthage Heroes are appreciated and may be made at Carthage Community Foundation.
