SPALDING REMEMBERED AS PROFESSIONAL COMMISSIONER

BENTON -- There wasn't a road in Scott County that Joe "Amos" Spalding hadn't traveled.

As an associate county commissioner, Spalding tried to keep up with highway and road projects. He was a self-taught `expert' with the county's roads, bridges and highway equipment.

"He knew every road and bridge in the county," said Scott County Presiding Commissioner Bob Kielhofner. "He was the type of guy you needed for the job."

Spalding, 65, died Wednesday after an extended illness.

"He was an invaluable member of the commission," Kielhofner said. "He knew the game and where the goal posts were."

Spalding was serving his fourth term as commissioner, a seat he had held since 1989.

Gov. Mel Carnahan must now appoint someone to fill the vacancy on the commission.

Much of Spalding's knowldege about road construction came from his business experience. Spalding owned the Spalding Trucking Company for 45 years. He had also operated buses for the Kelly school district for about 20 years. He was a past member of the Benton Town Board and supervised the county's commodity food program for 10 years.

"He was a professional businessman and a professional commissioner," said Rita Milam, Scott County clerk. "He knew what the county needed. He served the county well."

Spalding always came into the courthouse with a smile, she said. "He always included you in the conversation and made you feel like you were somebody."

Kielhofner agreed: "He was always in the right frame of mind. He could receive bad news and try to correct it."

For quite some time, the county clerk's office and Spalding had a private joke about paperwork. As an associate commissioner, Spalding wasn't required to sign as many documents as the presiding commissioner.

"He always asked if I had any papers for him to sign," Milam said. "We said that one day we'd make a whole batch and make him sit there all day and sign."