M. Luther Hahs of Cape Girardeau has been honored by Northwestern Mutual Life, marking 50 years as an agent with the company.

Hahs, who joined Northwestern Mutual as an agent April 1, 1948, received an engraved bronze tray from Edward T. Hempstead, Northwestern general agent from St. Louis.

Hahs has a bachelor's degree from Southeast Missouri State University and a master's degree from California Institute of Technology. He was a science teacher at Cape Central High School before joining Northwestern Mutual Life. He later completed his Charter Life Underwriter from the American College.

After joining Northwestern, Hahs became a district agent, building a successful district agency. Six of his first agents remain with the company today.

Hahs received a life membership in the Million Dollar Round Table and served as president of the Missouri Association of Life Underwriters and president of Northwestern Mutual's Association of Agents.

He was instrumental in organizing the local Cape Girardeau Association of Life Underwriters. In his honor, the annual "Life Underwriter of the Year" designation is called "The M. Lutheran Hahs Award."

In 1972, Hahs became disabled from stroke. He had to relearn how to walk, talk and drive a car. With the help of a local teacher, he wrote a book, "God, Mommy, Amen." All proceeds from the book help fund the Luther and Catherine Hahs Speech Scholarship Fund at Southeast Missouri State University.

Hahs' son, David L. Hahs; a grandson, Brandon C. Hahs; and, a nephew, T. Ronald Hahs, continue the family tradition as members of the local Northwestern Mutual Agency.

Mark D. Strickland of Cape Girardeau and Michael R. Helpingstine of Sikeston were among 102 professional engineer honorees who attended a certificate ceremony at Jefferson City Saturday.

Attainment of a professional engineering license requires graduation from a four-year engineering program approved by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology and passage of an eight-hour engineer-in-training program.

The ceremony was sponsored by the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers (MSPE) and the Missouri Board for Architects, Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

Thomas M. Meyer, of Thomas L. Meyer Realtors, attended the recent annual joint meeting of the Midwest U.S. Japan Association, held in Tokyo, Japan.

Some 300 delegates -- 150 each from Japan and the United States -- attended the session, which included a message from MITI's Minister Mitsuo Horiuchi, who discussed the monetary crisis in Asia.

Other speakers included Thomas S. Foley, U.S. ambassador to Japan, and Keizo Obuchi, minister of foreign affairs, who discussed U.S.-Japanese relations.

Also making the trip from Missouri were Duane Gerken, president of the Missouri Association of Realtors, and Dennis McDermott, executive vice president of the MAR.

Meyer, a former MAR president, represented the Missouri Realtors Economic Development Council.

Larry Crutsinger of Cape Girardeau County was one of 16 people who participated in the eighth annual Young Cattlemen's Conference held recently at the Holiday Inn Holidome in Columbia.

Young cattlemen and cattlewomen particpated in the Mythstoppers media training program during the three-day session, where they were trained to become spokespeople for the industry.

The program was sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health, the Missouri Beef Industry Council and the Missouri Cattlemen's Association.

Bo Shantz, agent for State Farm Insurance Cos., has received the Bronze Tablet Award for profitability and production.

The award is presented to agents who have been profitable for five of seven years and have reached production goals set by the company.

Shantz has been a State Farm agent six years.

Shantz State Farm recently moved to 1428 N. Kingshighway. The company offers auto, home, fire, health and business insurance.

Drs. Robert Kessinger and Dessy Boneva of Kessinger Specific Chiropractic Clinic, 1424 Kurre Lane, have received master's recognition for skill in assessment of permanent medical impairments.

Kessinger and Boneva recently completed intensive postgraduate courses on A.M.A. guidelines to the evaluation of permanent medical conditions including losses of bodily function and impairment.

Kathy Muse of Jackson was a winner of a promotion sponsored by the House of Brides, 238 N. Pacific, and the Italian Grapevine restaurant, 118 Themis.

Muse will receive a dinner for two for prom.

Nell Johnson of St. Louis, customer service cashier at Schnucks Downtown Store in St. Louis, has been honored as companywide "Checker of the Year."

The award was presented by Craig D. Schnuck, chairman and chief executive officer and Scott C. Schnuck, president and chief operating officer of Schnucks Markets Inc.

Division winners from each of Schnucks' 89 stores in Missouri, Illinois and Indiana were eligible for the annual honor.

The division winner from Cape Girardeau Schnucks, 19 S. Kingshighway, was Brenda Pemberton.

Jack Estes, a yard equipment operator at the New Madrid Power Plant, has been named "Safety Person of the Year."

Estes, who has worked for Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. 16 years, will be honored by AECI during the annual AECI Excel Award event later this month.

AECI provides wholesale power to six regional and 42 local electric cooperatives in Missouri and Iowa. AECI's system serves more than 550,000 homes and businesses. Effective July 1, AECI will serve nine more local electric cooperatives in Oklahoma, adding another 678,000 homes and businesses.