Chamber award winners have rich history in Cape Girardeau

James A. Rust, winner of the 2008 Rush H. Limbaugh award from the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce, has an extensive list of accomplishments.

In addition to operating a company, RM Coco, that does business in all 50 states and several foreign countries, Rust has devoted considerable amounts of time to community projects. His accomplishments include:

• Leading the major gifts division of the "New Vision of Excellence" campaign for Southeast Missouri State University.
• Working to help the La Croix Church Building Committee achieve major building projects.
• Being a member of the Southeast Missouri State University Booster Board.
• Being a member of the Southeast Missouri State University Copper Dome Society.
• Being past chairman of the board for the chamber.
• Serving on the Cape Girardeau City Council.
• Being a member of leadership in organizations such as the American Cancer Society, the Tower Club, the Southeast Missouri Hospital board of directors, the chamber, and the Cape Girardeau Country Club board of directors.

Rust is the 20th recipient of the award named after Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. The award was established in 1989.

The Small Business of the Year, Lang Jewelers, has a history that spans two World Wars and survival of floods, fires, economic depression, recessions, marriages, divorces and deaths.

The business was founded in 1916 by N.S. Weiler from Carbondale, who employed a 17-year-old apprentice named Hugo Lang. Weiler died unexpectedly that year and Hugo Lang purchased the business from Weiler's widow. Lang's two sons began working with him after World War II.

The business was built on sales of watches and watch repairs. The third generation of the family, Roger Lang, joined the business after graduating from Southeast Missouri State University and attended Gem City College in Quincy, Ill., and expanded the store into a full-line jewelry retailer.

Roger Lang and his wife, Judith Ann, began a store renovation in 2003, but Roger Lang was called to active duty with the National Guard, expecting to see duty in Iraq. He remained in the states, returned to the store in 2004, and the renovation process has been completed.

Lang was instrumental in building the downtown organization based on the Main Street program that became Old Town Cape.