Chamber Citizen of the Year nominees announced

Tickets for the Awards Banquet will be available at the chamber office. You must have a ticket to attend this event. Tickets will not be available at the door. Deadline to purchase tickets is Feb. 6. Tickets are $25 per person. For more information, contact the chamber office at (573) 336-5121 or e-mail chamber@wsrchamber.com.

Luge Hardman

Luge Hardman hails from Mena, Arkansas, nestled in the Ouachita Mountains. Luge found the love of her life, her husband Paul, through another of her great loves, education, when she relocated to Waynesville in 1971 for a teaching job. Luge and Paul welcomed two children, and as she and Paul were building a family, Luge was also building a strong community presence. That commitment to the community initially led her to volunteer opportunities, beginning with Old Settlers’ Day and Benny Doolin’s heliport and gazebo projects. Early on, Luge was also a fixture at the Old Stagecoach Stop, both as a docent for Saturday tours and as a valued board member.

Luge taught for 30 years, instructing and inspiring thousands of students in the Waynesville Schools. She also served two decades as an adjunct instructor for Drury University at both their St. Robert and Ft. Leonard Wood campuses. During her career, Luge was recognized for her dedication with a variety of honors, including “Teacher of Merit” (Missouri Historical Society), “Teacher of the Year” (Missouri Council for Social Studies), and “American History Teacher of the Year” (Daughters of the American Revolution). As WHS National History Day teacher, Luge consistently led successful teams to state competitions and took two teams to nationals.

Luge was an active member of the teachers’ sorority Kappa Kappa Iota as well as one of the first female presidents of Phi Delta Kappa, an international professional education society, ever elected in Missouri. She served on numerous education committees, for three of which she helped write standardized tests used statewide. She currently serves on the Waynesville School District Governance Committee, working with the superintendent and school officials on school improvement.

Luge’s passion for improving Waynesville through local government took root in the 1980’s, when she served on and was eventually elected chairwoman of the Waynesville Planning and Zoning Commission, which helped establish early building ordinances protecting Waynesville’s citizens. Luge began serving on the Waynesville Park Board in the 1990s, became chairwoman there as well, and lead the Board to national recognition as “Small Park Board of the Year” in 2006. She has further improved Waynesville’s parks by helping add pavilions, securing a grant to build the Walking Trail, and facilitating the addition of the Spray Park. While mayor, she led the community efforts to build an accessible playground in Roubidoux Park and a community stage. Luge has always recognized the value of a well-run park system made available to and enjoyable for all citizens.

In 2003, Luge shifted focus from her distinguished career to a life of volunteerism when she retired from teaching. She was elected to Waynesville City Council and served nine years. During her tenure, Luge spearheaded the Downtown Beautification Committee as council representative and led an effort to obtain a $250,000 grant for new sidewalks and lighting downtown, re-invigorating the area. She also worked with local financial institutions to purchase the town square clock and championed causes such as certifying Laughlin Park as a stop on the National Park Service Historic Trail and constructing Trail of Tears exhibits.

In 2012, Luge was elected mayor of Waynesville serving until 2020. She represents the City of Waynesville and Pulaski County in various volunteer positions as well as on local and statewide committees. She served as the Honorary Chairman of the Salvation Army Tree of Lights and was a board member of the Missouri Municipal League. A warmly welcomed fixture at military functions, Luge reveres and has strengthened Waynesville’s crucial ties to Ft. Leonard Wood.

After leaving office in 2020, Luge began writing her personal stories. Her first book, Small-Town Mayor: Political Adventures in the Ozarks was published in 2021, which led to a second, "Life After Loss". She now serves on the board of the Missouri Route 66 Association and is active in planning the Centennial celebration of the “Mother Road,” as a member of the Governor’s Route 66 Centennial Commission. She is a member of the Roubidoux Writers Society, along with serving on the Sheriff’s Ethics Committee, working to involve citizens in decisions concerning law enforcement decisions and personnel. And in her spare time, Luge is busy being a grandmother to seven and loves to travel.

Luge is a strong champion of tourism. As a volunteer, while serving in office, and post-"retirement", she offers support for welcome receptions and provides history sessions along the banks of the Roubidoux and the downtown square. She has never met a stranger and continually promotes Pulaski County communities, culture, and history through networking with motorcoach planners and groups. She has left a positive, lasting impression on everyone as to how fantastic our communities are, including "cavers", film producers, and even an astronaut! She can talk about anything, bottom to top, and everything in between!

Luge Hardman has helped transform Waynesville in her years of service as an educator, volunteer, and city official, and continues to focus on quality-of-life issues as she wraps up her local government career. Contagious enthusiasm and a ‘can-do’ spirit, love and care for citizens of both Waynesville and the world, and the deeply-felt impact she’s made as a neighbor, mentor, and friend make Luge an essential part of the town’s foundation. Luge Hardman found her people when she found Waynesville, where she continues to proudly serve and live among them.

Cheryl Newcomb-Rigsby

The Pulaski County Humane Society proudly nominates Cherie Newcomb Rigsby for consideration of the Waynesville-St. Robert Area Chamber of Commerce 2022 Citizen of the Year. Cherie is a driving force behind the planning and management of the Loving Paws Adoption Center where unwanted, neglected, and abused animals are cared for until new owners are found for dogs and cats to receive permanent homes.

Cherie has provided countless hours of work for Pulaski County through her volunteerism. Since 2011, her time has been utilized in feeding, facility cleaning, taking animals to vet appointments, providing animal hygiene care, delivering, and rescuing animals, advocating for distressed animal situations at the Pulaski County Courthouse and raising funds for food, shelter, and medical care of the animals.

Cherie Newcomb Rigsby is an invaluable member of the Pulaski County Humane Society. Her dedication and volunteer efforts demonstrate great care for the well-being of our furry friends.

Janice Wilson

Janice Wilson retired as a Sergeant First Class in the United States Army in 2009 after completing over 20 years of active service. She is a resident of Waynesville, where she resided with her husband Sean, who has been married for over 23 years. They have two children, Sean II and Anihya, both of whom are attending college in Springfield, MO.

Janice has been a Waynesville-St. Robert Chamber of Commerce Ambassador for six years. She was the recipient of the Ambassador 2018 Goodwill Spirit Award. Janice is also a graduate of Leadership Pulaski County Class five where she served as class president, and post-graduation, served as the LPC Alumni President. Janice has also supported the CHOICE’s program as a presenter for over six years and plans to continue to support the program in the future. She supported other events with the Chamber such as the chili cookoff, the Route 66 Challenge and the basket auctions.

Janice has volunteered her time in many different capacities within the community. She has supported annual back to school prayer walks for the last four years, the annual Feed the Children/Back to School extravaganza for over 10 years, has been a contributor to the Laclede employees Hats & Glove drive, the annual Kids in the Park Day, and Waynesville Pumpkin Fest supporter for over eight years. Janice has shared her gift of singing with several organizations and their events by way of the National Anthem.

Janice previously volunteered with the Fort Wood Community Spouses Club for 6 years. She held the positions of secretary and scholarship outreach chair. Janice served as secretary, scholarship chair, retiree representative and now Chairperson of the FLW Thrift shop. She has served as and is currently the vice president of the Pulaski County Library Board (has served as a board member for 3 years).

Janice is an active member of the Pulaski County Rotary Club. She served a term as president and is now the Assistant Governor, overseeing/providing guidance for the leadership of four Rotary Clubs. She is a Paul Harris Fellow recipient. Janice is also the club lead for the Waynesville High School Interact Club. They were awarded the Rotary Citation with Gold Distinction for 2020 & 2021 and the 2020 Interact Service Challenge Award for service in the community.

Janice worked as a Family Readiness Support Assistant for the 102D Training Division (MS) for 10 years. She provided outreach and support for Family Readiness/Programs for Soldiers and Family members of the Division. She was recognized the 2018 Junior Civilian of the Year. She partnered with Operation Home front to provide school supplies and Christmas toys for unit Soldiers and their families. Under Operation Homefront Christmas Toy drive, she distributed over 6,000 toys to Soldiers and Families during Holiday Celebration events.

Janice currently works as a Missouri Prevention Specialist for Prevention Consults of Missouri. She provides prevention education and resources to educate families, schools, and communities about alcohol, tobacco and drug misuse with our 18 and under population.

Janice is a graduate of Wayland Baptist University with a masters degree in Organization Management. She is also an artist in song and has two songs published and available for purchase worldwide distribution platforms.