VERNON LANDGRAF, LONGTIME BUSINESS LEADER, DIES AT 72

Vernon H. Landgraf, 72, a longtime Cape Girardeau business, civic and political leader, died Thursday, June 12, 1997, at his home.

He was born Oct. 4, 1924, in Cape Girardeau, son of Ludwig Herman and Hilda Gerler Landgraf. He and Mary Victoria "Tori" Williams were married July 3, 1952, in Cape Girardeau.

Landgraf was formerly president of L.H. Landgraf Real Estate and Development Co. and L.H. Landgraf Lumber Co., and served on the executive board of Associated Building Center.

He was a member of the Jaycees and had been a past president, secretary, board member, and chairman of construction of the Jaycee Golf Course. He was a member and served on the boards of Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, and United Fund. He formerly served on the executive board at Southeast Missouri Hospital, and was a member of the hospital and Salvation Army boards of directors, and was active in Boy Scouting.

In 1968, Landgraf's involvement in Republican politics led to his being the first serious GOP nominee for COngress in Missouri's old 10th district in decades. Upon winning a three-way primary contest, he ran a stronger general election race than that of any party nominee in 40 years, garnering 47 percent of the vote in the overwhelmingly Democratic district. It was a performance that presaged the eventual victory of the late Rep. Bill Emerson in 1980. He was a delegate to state Republican conventions and took the lead in area fundraising efforts for Republican candidates at the local, state and national levels. In 1976 and 1980, he helped round up delegates for candidate Ronald Reagan's presidential campaigns.

Landgraf was a member of St. Andrew Lutheran Church, American Legion, VFW, member and past president of Southeast Missouri Lumber Dealers. He was a former member of the Missouri Highway Commission and Missouri Law Enforcement Assistance Council.

He received the Outstanding Young Man Award of state of Missouri for cities under 50,000 and Outstanding Young Man Award of city of Cape Girardeau, both in 1956.

Landgraf was a graduate of Central High School, where he was a member of the All-Star Southeast Missouri Football Team in 1941, and member of the All-State Basketball Team in 1942. He was an Eagle Scout. He was a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University and member of National Championship Small College Basketball Team in 1943.

He was in the military three years, serving 17 months in the European Theater during World War II.

Survivors include his wife; four sons, Mark and Luke Landgraf of Cape Girardeau, Jeff Landgraf of Decatur, Ill., John Landgraf of Bloomington, Ind.; and three grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a brother and sister.

Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel from 4-7 p.m. today.

Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Andrew Church. The Rev. Paul Short will officiate, with burial in Memorial Park.