Congratulations to Friday night's winners announced at the annual Cape Chamber of Commerce dinner/dance. Charles Hutson, winner of the Rush Limbaugh award, has long been a tireless worker for civic and charitable projects. As one of Cape's substantial locally owned retailers with interests in other enterprises, he is a positive contributor and a leader. Recognition of his many contributions to our community is well-deserved.

Much the same could be said of the Bess Distributing Company and its owners, brothers Joda Bess, a Cape resident, and Alvin "Buddy" Bess of Poplar Bluff. Their beautiful new headquarters building and adjacent warehouse, located in the Cape West development along I-55, are tremendous new assets for our region's economy. Bess Distributing has long been known for its successful operation and many charitable endeavors. We salute them for this well-deserved recognition.

A salute is also in order for the stirring rendition of the national anthem as sung by the Rev. Calvin Bird. No matter how many times you hear Calvin do it, it's always a thrill.

Outgoing Chamber Board Chairman John Mehner provided strong and active leadership. This year's board leadership is in good hands, with the tireless Harry Rediger at the helm.

Looks like 1993 could be a fine year for the Greater Cape Girardeau area.

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Speaking of well-deserved recognition, it was indeed an honor last Wednesday for me to present Southeast Hospital Assistant Administrator Karen Hendrickson as my first gubernatorial appointee for senate confirmation. Having been certified now by two governors of different parties for the state Board of Nursing, it's clear Karen will serve with distinction. Senate confirmation will follow Monday or Tuesday. Her late father, long-time Cape County Clerk Rusby Crites, would have been so proud of her. As are all of us who know Karen.

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I will have more to say in a subsequent column of the many contributions to the state and nation of U.S. Senator John Danforth. Suffice it to say, for now, that they are inestimable.

While I was traveling to Jefferson City Monday morning, a friend called me from Washington D.C. with news of the noon press conference and of what Jack Danforth would say. Listening to the announcement live on KMOX, I barreled on toward Jeff City, and from my car phone, I called that station 30 minutes later with a tribute. When host Bob Hardy told me I was on the air, I felt a lump in my throat.

I told Jack he was an inspiration to a couple of generations of young Missourians, me included. I then added, in characterizing his withdrawal announcement, this paraphrase of literature (is it Shakespeare?): "`Nothing so became his public service by his manner of leaving it.' That was a classy statement by a classy guy."

How very different from most other politicans Jack Danforth always was, and is.

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"Rhodes scholars in the Clinton administration already total about 20, exceeding the 13 in the Kennedy administration, and are expected to reach well over 20 when all the jobs are filled. But whether the elite and brightest are best for Clinton policies is questioned by some of Clinton's `blue-jeans' campaign officials."

Brief news item in Friday's the Wall Street Journal

This brief item recalls one of my favorite gems of LBJ/JFK political lore. The story is told that an excited Vice President Lyndon Johnson addressed his long-time fellow Texan, Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn. "Sam, you just can't believe how smart these people Jack's hiring are," LBJ told his wily friend. "Why they're from Harvard and Yale and Stanford and MIT and they've got a million degrees between them. They're just the most brilliant bunch we've ever had running the government."

(Author David Halberstam later wrote a book, entitled "The Best and the Brightest", of this group of geniuses who marched America into a ground war in the jungles of Southeast Asia.)

Anyway, the story goes, Speaker Sam Rayburn heard his friend the vice president out, and then chose his words carefully. "Maybe you're right, Lyndon," Speaker Sam replied, "But I just wish one of the entire lot of those geniuses had run for county sheriff just one time."

There's a world of wisdom summed up in that story.