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Official People

Quasi-Official People

Third Places’ People (Unofficial Community Leaders and Knowledge Sources)


Longtime Columbia Mayor Darwin Hindman

Introduction

It does you no good to know how the community works or where offices and businesses are located if you don’t know the names of the people running and working in those offices and businesses. The same goes for those whose role in the community is less official: you have to know who they are by name and how to get a hold of them. In this section of the guide, we give you some of those names, plus a little biographical information if we think it’s useful in a particular person’s case.

This page is up-to-date as of completion of this guide (September 2005), and we hope that the online version will be kept up to date by reporters and editors like you working with the staff of the Missourian Newspaper Library. It wasn’t possible to locate phone numbers or email addresses for all of the people and organizations listed below. Please let a news librarian know if you can fill any of these gaps. All phone numbers are area code 573 unless otherwise specified.


Official People

City Government

The City Council
  • Mayor Darwin Hindman (Term expires 04/07) 449-5227, e-mail cityman@GoColumbiaMo.com

    As of April 2005, Hindman had been mayor of Columbia for 10 years. He is known as a strong advocate for parks and a clean environment (nearly 200 acres of parkland has been added since he became mayor), but he’s also overseen a decade of steady growth. Housing in the city during his tenure has increased 35 percent, the population 19.4 percent, and the city size 25.6 percent. Hindman practices what he preaches as far as healthy living, and he resides in a modest house at the end of Francis St., near the intersection of West Boulevard and Stadium Boulevard.

  • Almeta Crayton (1st Ward Councilwoman) (Term expires 04/08) 874-2475 (h); 441-7069 (w) e-mail ward1@GoColumbiaMo.com
  • Chris Janku (2nd Ward Councilman) (Term expires 04/06) 817-2248, e-mail ward2@GoColumbiaMo.com
  • Bob Hutton (3rd Ward Councilman) (Term expires 04/07) 442-5423, e-mail ward3@GoColumbiaMo.com
  • Jim Loveless (4th Ward Councilman) (Term expires 04/07) 445-8880, e-mail ward4@GoColumbiaMo.com
  • Laura Nauser (5th Ward Councilwoman) (Term expires 04/08) 817-2771, e-mail ward5@GoColumbiaMo.com
  • Barbara Hoppe (6th Ward Councilman) (Term expires 04/09) 443-5107, e-mail ward6@GoColumbiaMo.com
The City Manager
  • Bill Watkins 874-6338, e-mail cityman@GoColumbiaMo.com
Public Communications
Police Contacts
  • Police Chief Randall (Randy) Boehm
  • East District Commander Zim Schwartze
  • West District Commander Brad L. Nelson
  • Investigative Division Commander Mike Martin(call him for major crimes)
  • Capt. Stephen Monticelli (for non-major crimes)
  • Main number (non-emergency) 874-7652
  • For records requests and statistical information 874-7421
  • For police reports 874-7419
Fire Contacts
  • Fire Chief Bill Markgraf
  • Battalion Chief Steve Sapp
  • Lt. Debbie Sorrell, assistant fire marshall and PIO, office: 874-7659; pager: 441-4499; cell: 219-0894
  • Fire dept. administration 874-7391; after hours 874-7450
Transportation Contacts
  • Ken Koopmans, transportation manager

County Government

County Commission 886-4305
  • Keith Schnarre, Presiding Commissioner (term expires 12/06)
  • Karen Miller, District I (Southern) Commissioner (term expires 12/08)
  • Skip Elkin, District II (Northern) Commissioner (term expires 12/08)

County Clerk
  • Wendy Noran 886-4295
Prosecuting Attorney
  • Kevin Crane 886-4100
Sheriff’s Department
  • Dwayne Carey, Sheriff 875-1111
  • Sgt. Tom O’Sullivan
Circuit Clerk
  • Cheryl Whitmarsh 886-4000
Court Administrator
  • Kathy Lloyd 886-4060
Juvenile Justice Center
  • Kirk Kippley, Juvenile Justice Center 886-4450
  • Rick Gaines, Juvenile Office 886-4200
County Assessor
  • Tom Schauwecker 886-4270
County Collector
  • Pat Lensmeyer 886-4285
County Auditor
  • June Pitchford 886-4275
Fire Protection District
  • Chief Steve Paulsell (e-mail him at spaulsell@bcfdmo.com)
  • Gale Blomenkamp, Captain and PIO (work: 447-5000; Nextel: 219-0677; home: 256-2637)
  • Board of Directors: Willis Smith, John Marshel Gordon Sr., Myrtle Rapp

MU and UM System

Board of Curators
  • Thomas E. Atkins, Columbia, President (term expires Jan. 1, 2007): Owner of Columbia Photo and Electronics and Atkins Building Services and a managing partner in several residential and commercial real estate development partnerships
  • Angela M. Bennett, J.D., Kansas City, Vice President (term expires Jan. 1, 2007): Attorney and director of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, Kansas City Office
  • Marion H. Cairns, Webster Groves (term expires Jan. 1, 2009): Former administrator and teacher, serves on the Webster Groves School District’s Superintendent’s Citizen’s Advisory Committee
  • John M. Carnahan III, Springfield (term expires Jan. 1, 2011): Attorney and founder of Carnahan, Evans, Cantwell and Brown, P.C.
  • Anne C. Ream, O.D., West Plains (term expires Jan. 1, 2007): Optometrist
  • Doug Russell, Lebanon (term expires Jan. 1, 2011): President of the Durham Co., a manufacturer of electrical enclosures in Lebanon, MO and Houston, MO
  • Cheryl D. S. Walker, St. Louis (term expires Jan. 1, 2009): Chief operating officer and general counsel of Citadel Partners, LLC
  • Don Walsworth, Marceline (term expires Jan. 1, 2009): President and chief executive officer of the Walsworth Publishing Company, Inc.
  • David G. Wasinger, St. Louis (term expires Jan. 1, 2011): Managing partner of the law firm Murphy Wasinger, L.C.
UM System President
Gary Forsee
321 University Hall
President’s Office
Director of UM Media Relations
  • Joe Moore
    882-4591
Faculty Council, Conley House, 882-7655

This list is current as of September 2005; members are elected for a three year term and are eligible to serve two consecutive terms.

  • William Lamberson, Animal Science (Chair)
  • Francis John Schmidt, Biochemistry Medicine (Vice Chair)
  • Edward Adelstein, Pathology (Chair, Fiscal Affairs)
  • Elizabeth Baker, Literacy Education
  • Ken Benson, Sociology
  • Charles Borduin, Psychology
  • Bruce Bullock, Agricultural Economics
  • Rex R. Campbell, Rural Sociology (IFC Representative)
  • Leah Cohn, Veterinary Medicine and Surgery
  • Michael Devaney, Electrical and Computer Engineering (Chair, Student Affairs)
  • Pat Fry, Law (Recorder)
  • Clark Gantzer, Natural Resources
  • Catherine A. Holland, Political Science and Women Studies
  • Philip Johnson, Veterinary Medicine
  • Michael W. Kramer, Communication
  • Alan Luger, Pathology
  • Kenneth MacLeod, Geological Sciences
  • Michael Muchow, Non-voting representative from Librarians
  • Steven Neal, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
  • Thomas E. Phillips, Biological Sciences (Chair, Academic Affairs)
  • Eileen Porter, Nursing
  • Anand Prahlad, English
  • Jenice Prather-Kinsey, Accountancy (Chair, Faculty Affairs)
  • Mark Prelas, Nuclear Engineering (Web Editor)
  • Laura Schopp, Health Psychology (Observer to the Board of Curators)
  • Andrew Simpson, Non-voting representative from AAUP
  • James Sterling, Editorial
  • Michael Taksar, Mathematics
  • J. Wilson Watt, Social Work (Chair, Diversity Enhancement)
  • Robert Weems, Non-voting representative from Black Faculty and Staff
  • Roger Worthington, Educational, School and Couseling Psychology
  • Dean Yarwood, Non-voting representative from MURA
  • Lisa Zanetti, Truman School of Public Affairs
  • Flore Zephir, Romance Languages and Literature
MU Chancellor
  • Brady Deaton
Chancellor’s Office
MU Provost

As of May 2005, MU had an interim provost while the university conducted a search for a new full-time provost.

 
882-6596

Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Relations (fund-raising from alumni and elsewhere)
  • David Housh
    301 Reynolds Alumni Center
    882-7703
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
  • Catherine Scroggs
    110 Jesse Hall
    882-6776
Director Intercollegiate Athletics (Athletic Director)
  • Mike Alden
    Mizzou Arena
    882-2055
Assistant to the Chancellor, University Affairs
  • Chris Koukola
    882-4523

MU News Bureau (Public/Press Relations), 329 Jesse Hall

Hospitals

MU Health System
  • James Ross, Chief Executive Officer
  • Vicki Humburg, Ross’s assistant, 884-8738
  • Jeri Doty, Chief Planning Officer
  • Robert Rynning, Doty’s assistant 884-6622
  • Dennis G. Stambaugh, Chief Network Officer
  • Gail Seaman, Stambaugh’s assistant, 882-1392
  • Kevin J. Necas, Chief Financial Officer
  • Mary H. Hall, Necas’s assistant, 884-6117
  • Cynthia M. Grueber, Director, University Hospitals and Clinics (University Hospital, Children’s Hospital, Ellis Fischel Cancer Center)
  • Donna G. Sims, Grueber’s assistant, 882-3737
  • W. Kirt Nichols, MD, Chief of Staff, University Hospital, Children’s Hospital, Ellis Fischel Cancer Center
  • Donald Silver, MD, Chairperson University Physicians, 882-1612
  • Robin Meter, Executive Director, University Physicians, 882-1612
  • James C. Poehling, Director, Columbia Regional Hospital
  • Connie A. Dorflinger, Poehling’s assistant, 875-9200
  • Steven Dresner, MD, Chief of Staff, Columbia Regional Hospital
  • Dennis G. Nicely, Director, Missouri Rehabilitation Center
  • Sherry A. Barto, Nicely’s assistant, (417) 461-5459
Boone Hospital Center
Board of Trustees
  • Barbara Weaver, Chairperson
    1415 N. Countryshire Drive
    Columbia, MO 65202
    445-4286
  • Robert McDavid, MD, Vice Chairperson
    3609 Arbor Court
    Columbia, MO 65201
    474-4416
  • H.J. Murrell, MD, Treasurer
    1400 Torrey Pines Drive
    Columbia, MO 65203
    815-9674
  • Fred Parry, Secretary
    Premier Marketing
    503 Old Highway 63 N.
    Columbia, MO 65201
    Business Phone: 499-1830
  • Llona Weiss
    1801 Johnmeyer Ln.
    Columbia, MO 65201
    445-4973
Administration
  • Michael B. Shirk, President and Senior Executive Officer, 815-3210

    In June 2005, Shirk announced his retirement. A replacement had not yet been named.

  • Randy M. Morrow, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, 815-3206
  • Richard Sommer, Vice President, Physician and Employee Services, 815-3666
  • Mary Beck, Vice President, Patient Care Services, 815-6056
  • Carol B. Danuser, MD, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, 815-2201
  • David Pittman, MD, Chief of Medical Staff, 815-2444

Columbia Public Schools

See the school district’s Web site for school principals’ names and contact numbers for individual schools.

Administration
Main administrative phone number: 214-3400
  • Dr. Phyllis A. Chase, Superintendent of Schools
  • Dr. Jacque A. Cowherd, Deputy Superintendent for Administration
  • Dr. Cheryl Cozette, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction
  • Dr. Jack Jensen, Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education
  • Christopher L. Mallory, Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education and School Communications Secretary to the Board of Education
  • Kevan Snell, Director of Business Services/Treasurer to the Board of Education
  • Dr. Mary A. Laffey, Director of Human Resources
  • Jeaneal Alexander, Director of Special Education
  • Patricia Brooks, Director of Nutrition Services
  • Frequent Press Contact: Dr. Lynn E. Barnett, Assistant Superintendent for Student Support Services: 214-3414 or e-mail lbarnett@columbia.k12.mo.us
Board of Education
  • J.C. Headley, President, 449-6670, E-mail: jheadley@coin.org
    5009 Cullen Court, Columbia, MO 65203
    Term ends April 2007
  • Karla DeSpain, Vice President, 445-4930, E-mail: kdespain@centurytel.net
    1800 Glenbrook Court, Columbia, MO 65203 Term ends April 2007
  • David Ballenger, 445-5488, E-mail: dpballe@attglobal.net
    305 Vieux Carre Court, Columbia, MO 65203
    Term ends April 2008
  • Dr. Kerry Crist, 445-2772, E-mail: kcrist4@mchsi.com
    1800 Chapel Wood Road, Columbia, MO 65203
    Term ends April 2006
  • Elton Fay, 474-5674, E-mail: elton@gfglaw.com
    11 N. 5th Street, Columbia, MO 65201
    Term ends April 2006
  • Donald Ludwig, 442-2801, E-mail: drl083038@aol.com
    701 Thilly, Columbia, MO 65203
    Term ends April 2008
  • Darin Preis, 499-1262, E-mail: dspreis88@yahoo.com
    1515 Kinloch Court, Columbia, MO 65203
    Term ends April 2008

Other Official People

Other Government

For maps of districts and other election information go to www.sos.mo.gov/elections/s_default.asp?id=maps

  • U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof (Republican)-D.C. office 202-225-2956; local office 33 E. Broadway, Suite 280, 449-5111 (Columbia and Boone County are part of the ninth Congressional District of Missouri)
  • U.S. Senator Jim Talent (Republican)-D.C. office 202-224-6154; Jeff City office 573-636-1070
  • U.S. Senator Kit Bond (Republican)-D.C. office 202-224-5721; Jeff City office 573-634-2488
  • State Sen. Chuck Graham (Democrat from Columbia)-his District 19 includes Boone and Randolph Counties; 573-751-2162; E-mail: Chuck.Graham@senate.mo.gov

  • The following state representatives claim part of Boone County in their districts:

    • State Rep. Wes Shoemyer (Democrat from Clarence)-District 9-573-588-7895; 573-751-7852
    • State Rep. Steve Hobbs (Republican from Mexico)-District 21-573-581-1214; 573-751-9458
    • State Rep. Jeff Harris (Democrat from Columbia)-District 23-268-2789; 573-751-9753
    • State Rep. Ed Robb (Republican from Columbia)-District 24-875-2530; 573-751-1471
    • State Rep. Judy Baker (Democrat from Columbia)-District 25-442-7227; 573-751-1169
  • Mike Chapman, Missouri Homeland Security Director-573-522-3007
Development Sources

It wasn’t possible to locate phone numbers or e-mail addresses for all of the developers listed below.

  • Central Missouri Development Council: a non-profit created to protect the interests of developers; Don Stamper, executive director: 442-0512
  • Forum Development Group: 1400 Forum Boulevard, 446-5500: Forum Shopping Center (anchored by Schnucks) and the new Broadway Shoppes at I-70 and Hwy 63
  • Kroenke Group: 1001 Cherry St., 449-8323: the development company behind Broadway Marketplace (home of Sam’s Club) and the Shoppes at Stadium (home of Famous Barr). Stan Kroenke, married to Wal-Mart heiress Ann Kroenke, heads up this company, which owns property across the country.
  • Curtis McDonald: This Fairfield, Iowa, developer, through his McDonald Properties, owns 65 percent of Centerstate Properties LLC, the holding company for CenterState Crossing. CenterState Crossing is a big commercial development anchored by the Bass Pro Shops and found just north of I-70 off of Highway 63. Go to www.mcdonaldproperties.com; call 641-472-0880.
  • Carol Van Gorp, chief executive of the Columbia Board of Realtors: 2309 I-70 Dr. SW, 446-2400
  • Billy Sapp, developer
    Bruce Beckett, attorney for Sapp: 443-3141

    In July 2005, the City Council approved annexing 805 acres owned by Sapp east of Highway 63. It was biggest annexation in city history and came after Sapp worked with neighborhood residents to address their concerns.

  • David Atkins (Rampart Development), developer
    Robert Hollis, attorney for Rampart
  • Garry Lewis, developer
  • Miller Properties, developer
Columbia Special District (Downtown Interests)
Carrie Gartner, director of the Special Business District-442-6816
Other Sources
  • Scott Atkins, businessman, owner of Tom Atkins Investments (investment banking, real estate): operates on contract the Missouri Dept of Revenue office at 1500 Vandiver Drive (driver’s license renewal, tax payments, motor vehicle registration)
  • Jack Watring, MU Police Chief (www.mupolice.com): 882-7201
  • Karl Kruse: 424-7339; 443-7571: This former city councilman and current executive director of Scenic Missouri has a lot to say about billboards and other environmental issues in Columbia.
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Quasi-Official People

Downtown Business Owners

  • Luanne Andes, owner of Lulu’s Repose: 874-8991
  • David Danuser, co-owner and manager of Bingham’s: 442-6397
  • Greg Copeland, downtown attorney, office space at 9th and Broadway: 874-3100
  • Arnie Fagan, board member, owner of Cool Stuff: 875-5225
  • Richard King: owner of the Blue Note, a concert venue downtown that attracts bands large and small
  • Lance Lenger, Daniel Dunn and Donald Potter: owners of the Penguin Dueling Piano Bar on Broadway
  • Mike and Patrick McClung: These brothers own clubs Déja Vu, Tonic and Quinton’s
  • Mike Menser, vice president of Buchroeder’s: 443-1457
  • John Ott, member of the Special District board, downtown property owner: 815-9495 (h)
  • Jennifer Perlow, co-owner of Poppy: 442-2753; 442-3223
  • Paul Sturtz and David Wilson: co-founders of the RagTag Cinema and the True False Film Festival

Local Media People

  • Hank Waters: publisher-owner of the Tribune: 815-1550
  • Tony Messenger: Tribune columnist: 815-1700
  • Simon Rose and Fred Parry: dueling “liberal” and “conservative” commentators on KFRU: 442-8255 (studio); 449-1400 (newsroom)
  • Paul Pepper: former weatherman and host of KOMU-TV’s Pepper and Friends, a long-running talk show; one slogan is “If it’s local, you’ll see it on Pepper and Friends”: 884-6397 (newsroom)

Advocacy Groups

  • Columbia Prism: e-mail columbiaprism@yahoo.com or Webmaster ederenne@hotmail.com
  • Chip Cooper, founder of PedNet: 445-6180 (h)
    Ian Thomas, director of PedNet (Thomas is Mayor Darwin Hindman’s son-in-law.): 445-2928 (h); e-mail pednet@pednet.org
  • Carrie Gartner, director of the Special Business District: 442-6816
  • Mid-Missouri LGBT Coalition: 446-7009 or email info@midmolgbtcoalition.org
    ask for Bruce Alspaugh or Nicki Nixon
  • Jeff Stack, coordinator, Mid-Missouri Fellowship of Reconciliation (anti-death-penalty group): 449-4585 (h); e-mail jstack@coin.org

Charities

  • Alternative Community Training: 800-359-4607 or 474-1199
  • Assistance League of Mid-Missouri: 445-3848
  • Boone County Council on Aging: 443-1111
  • Linda Green, executive director; Steve Tatlow, community involvement coordinator, Boone County Community Partnership: 256-1890
  • Dee Campbell-Carter or Nia Imani or Barbara Walker: FUN CITY Youth Academy: Community Playground of Columbia, 256-1436
  • Centro Latino de Salud, Educacion y Cultura: 449-9442
  • Columbia Area United Way: 443-4523
  • Lana Jacobs, St. Francis House: Jacobs, along with her husband Steve, is an old-school social activist Catholic. She traveled to Florida to protest the unhooking of Terri Schiavo in 2004 and is well-known around Columbia for her advocacy for the homeless and the poor: 875-4913
  • JobPoint: 474-8560
  • Peggy Kirkpatrick, Central Missouri Food Bank Director: 474-1020
  • Literacy Action Corps of Columbia: 443-6731
  • USDA Rural Development: 446-9093

Other Quasi-Official People

  • Vicki Russell, president of the Boone County Fair board
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“Third Places” People (Unofficial Community Leaders and Knowledge Sources)

Please note: it wasn’t possible to locate phone numbers or email addresses for all of the people listed below.

African-American Community

  • Mary Ratliff, president of the local NAACP: 108 Austin Ave.: 443-4588
  • Earl Miles: with his deceased wife, Clara, was a driving force behind the development of Miles Manor, a subdivision for black families built in the 1960s that offered blacks a chance to buy homes outside of segregated neighborhoods in Columbia
  • Arvarh Strickland: became first black professor at MU in 1969 in the history department; retired in 1996; co-founder of the Minority Men’s Network
  • Glen Cobbins, outreach director at the Imani Mission Center (Community of Christ), 7 E. Ash St.: 449-9625 Larry Williams, pastor and volunteer at Imani
  • Rodney Kemp, owner of MO Music (1205 Rangeline St., 449-1166) and a member of the First Ward Ambassadors
  • See also Almeta Crayton, 1st Ward Councilwoman

Hispanic Community

  • Los Cuates Latin Market, 2515 Bernadette Dr., 445-4364
  • Sister Francine Koehler, head of Sacred Heart Catholic Church’s Hispanic ministry: 443-3470; email srfrancine@sacredheart-church.org

    Sacred Heart has a Spanish-language Mass at 1 pm on Sundays.

  • Jackie Ambrow, head of the Unitarian Universalist Church’s Centro Latino, a not-for-profit that helps Hispanic immigrants adjust to the community
  • Eduardo Crespi, director of Centro Latino de Salud, Educacion y Cultura, located in Parkade Plaza Center, 601 Business Loop 70 West Suite 131: 449-9442

Asian Community

  • Hong Kong Market, 106 Business Loop 70 W: 474-2704

Muslim Community

  • Rashed Nizam, president of the Islamic Center of Central Missouri
  • Abdullahi Ibrahim, MU history professor

Other Interesting Columbia People

  • Pamela Jones, Hickman High School history teacher, source for local history
  • Channing Kennedy, record producer of Cat Jams Label (founded 2002)
  • Terzopoulos family: a dynasty of Greek restaurants, including the G&D Steakhouses, a local chain
  • Greg and Gary Wendt, owners of the Mid-Missouri Mavericks, Columbia’s beleaguered Frontier League baseball team; 2005 marked their fifth season in Columbia. (www.midmomavs.com) E-mail gwendt@midmomavs.com
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©2005 by Terzah Becker
Photographs and logo: ©The Columbia Missourian. Used with permission.
Contact Author at tke97b@mizzou.edu