Member of more than 20 community boards dies

Charles "Bud" Leming, 75, well-known in the Cape Girardeau business community, died Tuesday at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

According to those who worked with Leming on various boards and committees, he was always full of personality, very friendly, outspoken and caring as well as a team player.

"He was an intricate part of a lot of things," said John Mehner, president of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce.

Before his health prevented him from serving on the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, Leming was a very active member whose presence has been greatly missed.

In the 1950s, Leming was part of a separate group of the Chamber of Commerce that raised money and used it to purchase land and buildings for resale to incoming businesses.

He should be remembered for his part in the Industrial Park on Nash Road, Mehner said.

"Bud had a big heart," David Ross, director of the Show Me Center said. "He had a great love for the university and the athletic program and the Show Me Center."

One could always expect to hear the truth from Leming, Ross said. He always looked out for the interests of the athletic department.

In the early 1980s, Leming helped the Southeast Missouri State University Recreation Center get a portable wooden basketball floor in the practice gym for the basketball team to practice on.

Leming served on at least 20 different community boards and committees ranging from Girl Scouts and the Rotary Club to president of the SEMO University Alumni Association and president and general chairman of the United Way.

"You saw him all the time," Mehner said.

In addition to all the boards and committees he served on, Leming worked for 46 years at the M. E. Leming Lumber Co. as a foreman of the sawmill, salesman, office manager, general manager and president, Leming began working as a broker for Century 21 Ashland Realty in 1992.

In 1995, Leming was asked to serve as president on the Cape County Board of Realtors.

ameyer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127