LONE STAR INDUSTRY OF YEAR

In 1989, Lone Star Industries Inc. became the second industry to accept the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's Commitment of Excellence Award as the city's Industry of the Year.

Wednesday night, Lone Star Industries was in the industrial spotlight again, becoming the first Cape Girardeau industry to repeat as Industry of the Year.

Approximately 750 people attended the chamber's Industrial Banquet at the Show Me Center. Alan Gregory, chairman of the chamber's Industrial Relations Council, served as master of ceremonies.

The award was presented following remarks by guest speaker Mary Fisher, who discussed the importance of humor in the workplace and how light moods and fun can go a long way toward a successful business and higher productivity

"Through the achievements and efforts of Lone Star's management and employees, the company has maintained a presence as a leader in the cement industry and has earned the company a reputation as a responsible corporate citizen," said Doug Groesbeck, chairman of the board of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce.

Much has changed at Lone Star since its first Commitment of Excellence Award.

The company spends approximately $10 million to upgrade the Cape Girardeau plant each year, said Groesbeck.

A year after the company was first honored as Industry of the Year, Lone Star started a $9 million upgrade of the plant. Since then the company has added its alternate fuels facility, upgraded its control room, and completed the first of a two-phase, $12.5 million clinker furnace expansion project.

Most of the projects were completed by local contractors, said Groesbeck.

Lone Star employs 210 people at its Cape Girardeau plant and has an annual payroll in excess of $8.2 million.

The local company and its employees have been active in the community through chamber membership; company-sponsored soccer, youth baseball league and softball teams; and annual participation in Toys for Tots, United Way, Community Counseling Center activities, Red Cross Blood drives, and other charitable events, said Groesbeck.

Lone Star is also an active participant in the SEMO Regional Industry Training Group and the Regional Technical Education Council.

"This is a real honor," said Steve Leus, Lone Star plant manager. "We were surprised with being selected for the Commitment of Excellence Award."

The making of cement at the plant, which towers above the landscape on South Sprigg Street, dates back to 1909, when Portland Cement Co. established a plant at the site. It has abundant limestone reserves and is accessible to the Mississippi River.

Marquette Cement Co. acquired the plant in 1923, and twice expanded it.

Lone Star Industries bought the plant in 1982. Since then the plant has been completely upgraded and expanded many times.

The local plant produces more than 1.3 million tons of cement a year.

About 85 percent of that is shipped out by barge from the plant's loading terminal on the Mississippi River to Lone Star's river terminals in St. Louis, Paducah, Ky., Memphis and Nashville, Tenn., and New Orleans.

Founded in 1919 as International Cement Co., the company became Lone Star Cement Corp. in the 1930s when headquarters were moved east. The Lone Star Industries Inc. name was adopted in the 1960s.

Lone Star is headquartered at Stamford, Conn. The Cape Girardeau plant is the largest cement plant operated by the company.