Joe Davis: Uncommon Service

The Du Quoin Chamber of CommerceWednesday night honored Joe Davis as the 2014 Outstanding Citizen of the Year. Presenter Dixie Travelstead said of the past chamber president and longtime owner of Southern Illinois Moving & Storage (now owned by son Rick) , "His work ethic runs deep and his business relationships over the years have remained strong."

"These solid working relationships ... are testament to the caring and professionalism of the business. I think the most endearing qualities about Joe are his humility and unassuming demeanor. Through his own tragedies, he has always remained faithful and grateful for his blessings. He quietly supports virtually every organization in Du Quoin by attending their events or donating financially," she continued.

Mrs. Travelstead nominated Davis and her nominating letter was published last week in the newspaper.

The night began with a 6 p.m. social hour, followed by a delicious 7 p.m. piping hot dinner of baked chicken and white sauce mostaccioli prepared by Chaney Catering.

Members of the Future Business Leaders of America from the Du Quoin High School worked as servers. That organization is sponsored by Mrs. Denise Woodside.

The chamber extended its appreciation to the Elks for hosting the banquet.

The evening included the presentation of several special awards including the Business of the Year and Emerging Business of the Year Awards and the chamber's President's Award for outstanding service to the chamber.

Croessman Wholesale Business of the Year

The Business of the Year Award was presented to Croessman Wholesale Co. of Du Quoin, an historic downtown business.

The award was presented to owners George Ciganovich and son David by chamber vice-president Robyn Laur Russell:

"Back in the days of the roaring 20s, Vic Croessman began Croessman Wholesale and quickly grew his small business into a thriving business servicing bars, schools, correction systems, restaurants, and the almost 15 grocery stores serving Du Quoin at the time: Midwest Grocery, Riggio's, Kern's, Campanella's, and the old meat packing house, Sanitary Meat Market, to name a few," she began.

"About 68 years ago, a young man named George began working at Croessman's delivering paper goods and vending products. As the years went by, George became more involved in the company and in 1962 he and Jim Dennis bought it from the owner's wife, Nora Croessman, after the owner had passed away. When Mr. Dennis passed away in 1998, his part of the company passed to his son, Roger. Roger ran the company for a few years and in 2004, George and his son, David, bought Roger out and they continue to operate Croessman Wholesale.

"George and David take turns managing the sales calls both on the road and on the phones. The calls take them from Vienna to Benton and from Chester to East St. Louis. All roads lead them back home to their small well-kept secret of a warehouse, hidden in downtown Du Quoin, where you may periodically see one or the both of them sitting in their storefront office window at 79 West Main Street.

"The Ciganovichs' employ six people full time, including Larry Clark, who has been with them over 50 years.

"If you know George and David you know, they do not boast; you'd barely even know they were there if you didn't see them on Main Street from time-to-time. David claims the business runs itself and everyone pitches in. This type of teamwork environment has led them to be one of the longest running businesses in our town and in Southern Illinois.

"Any business ecosystem needs emerging businesses and long term businesses to be successful and we are thankful in Du Quoin to have both," she said.

St. Nicholas Brewing Co. Emerging Business of the Year

The Emerging Business of the Year Award was presented to the St. Nicholas Brewing Co. Restaurant on South Oak Street.

Russell made that presentation, as well: "Even though this business is still in its infancy, it had a very long gestation period, beginning in 2009. And if you happened to drive by 12 S. Oak Street and saw what the old hotel looked like in its dilapidated state by 2009, you will also know it was purchased just in the nick of time. In the words of Du Quoin Evening Call Publisher John Croessman, "It was an historic preservation rescue effort of high stakes proportion!"

"But, a transformation of this proportion doesn't happen overnight. After five long years and over $1 million dollars of investment, the old St. Nick Hotel is now the St. Nicholas Brewing Company, opened in late 2014 and it is brimming with excitement, it is rejuvenation at its finest, rivaling its glory days in the late 1800s. Newly created craft beers are being fermented in the stainless steel microbrewery by a brew master named James; bands of regional acclaim are playing in the gathering space; really, really good food is being eaten in the dining room including their signature brew pub fries, pizzas, sandwiches, salads, and their heavenly cupcakes, and many an intellectual conversation have taken place at the bar. What happens there now is exciting, but inside those walls you can feel the vibe of the hotel's history and a lot of Du Quoin people have a lot of very interesting stories about that building and the things that happened in it and we are glad to see it come to life again as Du Quoin strives to rebuild its downtown area. I've already had friends from Carbondale tell me they rode the train to town just to go to the St. Nick. That is progress!

"If you haven't eaten there yet or tried their beer and taken the tour of the microbrewery, please go visit them. I think you will enjoy your visit.

"Rejuvenating, reviving, re-empowering, and rebuilding our downtown to become an exciting destination is a goal coming true, one business at a time. The Chamber of Commerce applauds this effort taken on by this tenacious group of go-getters including the city, the private investors, the members of the board of directors, and the entrepreneurs who were committed to making this a reality and following a vision.

"Led by a vibrant young lady, Abby Ancell, the General Manager of the St. Nicholas Brewing Company, this new venture has emerged as part of the business community of Du Quoin and we welcome its birth!" Russell said.

Tracy Frenton Receives President's Award

The President's Award for outstanding service to the chamber was presented to Tracy Fenton of Fenton's Custom Collision. Fenton's giving to the community and to the chamber in terms of time, money and barbecue catering services is unprecedented. He is wholly involved in the work of the chamber and the growth of his custom collision center and towing service has been exponential. Construction will start on a new, state-of-the-art collision center at the intersection of Rt. 51 and 14 in the coming weeks.

The evening included recognition of the past recipients of the "Outstanding Citizen of the Year" Award.

They include:

1970 Joe Weber,1971 Anton Berg, 1972 Lucius S. Smith, 1973 Isador Friedman, 1974 R. Paul Hibbs, 1975 Ewald Pyle, 1976 Walter Naumer, Sr., 1977 Walter A. Walker, 1978 Kenneth E. Cook, 1979 James R. Swallows, 1980 Ralph Dunn, 1981 Leah Hayes- Wm. W. Hayes, 1983 R. W. Haines, 1984 Robert E. Fiegenbaum , 1985 Wm. M. Thornburg, M.D. , 1986 Ben A. Kinsman, M.D., 1987 Virgie Leach, 1988 Dr. Freddie A. Banks Jr., 1989 Rev. Fred E. Fieker, 1990 Bob Karnes, 1991 Joe Morris, 1992 Dr. Jack Struck, 1993 Harold Emling, 1994 Gene Showalter, 1995 Jesse (Herron) Geiger, 1996 Jerry Smith, 1997 Dixie Travelstead, 1999 Gary McClure, 2000 John Rednour, 2001 Gov. George Ryan 2003 Fred Huff & John Croessman, 2004 Richard "Doc" Holladay, 2005 Frank Maxton, 2006 Bob Heape, 2007 Judy Smid, 2008 Allen Martin, 2009 No Recipient, 2010 Jim Dimitroff, 2011 Doris Rottschalk & Sam Macaluso, 2012 Jess Coffel & Bill Hamburger , 2013 Bill Asbury and 2014 Joe Davis..

Past recipients of the chamber President's Award or service include: 1995 Richard "Doc" Holladay, 1996 W. C. Pfeiffer, 1997 Steve Fisher,1998 Bob Dyel, 1999 Angie Roach, 2000 Joe Davis, 2001 Cathy Chaney, 2002 Denny Elledge, 2003 L.T. Hill, 2004 Conrad Roach, 2005 Joyce Deaton, 2006 Sheila Haggard, 2007 Du Quoin Garden Club, 2008 Don Barrett, 2009 Frank Deaton, 2010 Sheila Haggard, 2011 Stacy Hirsch, 2012 Dr. Charles Novak & Richard "Doc" Holladay, 2013 Harold Emling & Don Hoffman of Emling & Hoffman, certified public accountants and 2014 Tracy Fenton of Fenton's Custom Collision.

Inaugural business of the year and emerging business of the year awards last year went to Doc Z's Fitness and Creativescapes.

The Du Quoin Chamber of Commerce is having an outstanding year under the presidency of Dr. Gary Kelly. He works alongside officers Robyn Laur Russell, first vice-president; Chip Banks, second vice-president; Richard "Doc" Holladay, secretary/treasurer and Stacy Hirsch, executive director. Russell is the incoming chamber president, who will begin her work next fall.

The chamber's Board of Directors includes: Dan Fulk, Dr. Jack Struck, Greg Showalter, Dane Mason, Norm and Janice Tilley, Joe Davis, Frank Deaton, Ed Gast, Angie Roach, Jerry Smith, Don Barrett, Zebada Bell, Tracy Fenton, Chuck Novak

Past Du Quoin Business Association and chamber presidents include: Ralph Dunn, Joe Morris, James Swallows, Gene Morris, Robert Forbes, Harry Abel, R.T. Matlavish, John Alongi, Walter Naumer, Jerry Smith, Gene Ator, Adolph Tecklenburg, Jack Struck, Gene Showalter, Duane Olson, Bill Jasecko, Robert "Bud" Shook, Harold Emling, Susan Heuman, Mike Travelstead, Gary McClure, Bob Dyel, Dan Fulk, Angie Roach, Joe Davis, Frank Deaton, Chuck Novak, Fred Huff, Sheila Haggard and currently Dr. Gary Kelly.