GARY RUST NAMED TO CIVIL RIGHTS PANEL

Gary Rust, owner of Rust Communications and the Southeast Missourian newspaper, was one of 11 people appointed Thursday to serve on the Missouri Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

The announcement of Rust's appointment was made by Melvin L. Jenkins, director of the Central Regional Office for the commission.

The commission has establish an advisory committee in each state and the District of Columbia to assist it in fulfilling its responsibility to report on civil rights developments.

The membership of the advisory committee, which is nominated from various sources throughout the state, is intended to reflect the composition of the state. Efforts are made to ensure a diversity in age, political affiliation, racial and ethnic backgrounds, occupation and geographic locations.

"We have diversity in mind, a cross-section of the population," Jenkins said Friday. "We are dealing with a diverse group of people across a whole spectrum of race relations."

In addition, the committee is meant to exemplify the best of Missouri's dedication to equality of opportunity and the enforcement of civil rights laws, Jenkins said.

Jenkins also said that it is difficult to define the status of race relations and civil rights in Missouri.

"It's a good question. I want the advisory committee to tell me. I want to listen to what they have to say," he said.

Rust, who was one of four new members to the 11-member committee, will serve a two-year term. He is one of three committee members from the eastern half of the state and the only member from Southeast Missouri.

His term will begin at the committee's inaugural meeting in St. Louis on Aug. 26.