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Submitted: 3/5/15 • Approved: 10/6/18 • Last Updated: 10/9/18 • R765990-G765988-S3
Robert
Jan 14, 1908 Saint Louis,St. Louis City, MO
Sep 15, 2003
Louise
Nov 9, 1909 Mtn Grove, Wright, MO
Mar 10, 1992
Memorial services for Robert F. "Bob" Neathery, 95, West Plains, will be 2 p.m. Thursday, September 18, 2003, at the West Plains Opera House, with the Rev. Richard Moon officiating under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home of West Plains. Mr. Neathery died 9:10 am Monday, September 15, 2003, at his home. He was born January 14, 1908, at St. Louis, the son of Robert F. and Nellie Brennan Neathery. He graduated from West Plains High School with the class of 1926, attended Washington University and transferred to the University of Missouri-Columbia, graduating with a degree in engineering. On September 6, 1932 he was married at Springfield to Blanche Louise Gambill, who preceded him in death March 11, 1992. Mr. Neathery's early years were spent working as the town's first telephone operator, telephone maintenance worker and grocery delivery boy. He drove the first Ford automobiles from the factory in St. Louis to a dealership in West Plains. He started an appliance store and brought the first Maytag washers to West Plains. Returning to West Plains after World War II Mr. Neathery, a pioneer in the radio business, founded radio station KWPM, which went on the air July 15, 1947, the first radio station between Springfield & Memphis, Tennessee. He went on to establish KUKU radio in Willow Springs and KALM in Thayer. Mr. Neathery, at one time owned radio stations in Branson, Fredericktown, Farmington and Columbia. For several years, he read the 5:30 news each afternoon on KWPM. In 1956, he established the first multi-channel cable company in Missouri. He provided a weather radar system for the West Plains area, receiving an award for his work from the Missouri House of Representatives in 1983. He was a founding member and charter president of the Missouri Broadcasters Association and won the "Distinguished Broadcasters Award" and the "Lifetime Achievement Award." Mr. Neathery was an avid supporter of the West Plains Area Chamber of Commerce, serving as its president in 1950, the 50th year of the organization. He was a Shriner, member of the West Plains Car Club, Rotary Past President and Paul Harris Fellow, member and first chairman of Missouri Southern Bank and became owner of the Horse Trader in 1989. In the same year Mr. Neathery was featured in the New York Times as the first radio station operator in the United States to simulcast radio broadcasts. A long-time supporter of the Southwest Missouri State University-West Plains, he was presented the SMSU-West Plains Founder's Award in May 2002, recognizing him for the significant impact he made on the mission of SMSU. He funded the Robert Neathery Scholarship to be awarded to students in the university's seven county service area, and during the construction of the Lybyer Enhanced Technology Center he offered to adopt one of the building's classrooms and provided the funding needed to equip it with the latest technology. Mr. Neathery suggested the creation of an SMSU-West Plains basketball team, earning him the distinction of being the "founding father" of Grizzly athletics. Since then he has supported the program with his membership in the Grizzly Booster Club at its highest level, the Trophy Grizzly Club, and with the establishment of the Robert Nethery's Grizzly Scholarship Fund for student athletics. In the 1990s Mr. Neathery's book, "West Plains As I Knew It" was published, an updated addition was released. The book, as told to Quill staff writer Marideth Sisco, is not only the story of Neathery's life, but the history of the town and stories of many of its inhabitants. Mr. Neathery was a major financial contributor for a skateboard park for the area's youngsters, which was later named the Robert F. Neathery Skatepark. During the groundbreaking, he was presented a golden skateboard for his work for the children of West Plains. In September 2001, Mr. Neathery was given the Distinguished Citizens Award from officials with the Ozarks Trail District, Boy Scouts of America, an honor presented to people who have distinguished themselves in the community during the ceremony. Mayor Joel Paul Evans presented Mr. Neathery a key to the city and read a proclamation declaring September as Robert Neathery month in the city. He was a member of the All Saints Episcopal Church, a member of the vestry and formally a senior warden of the church. Survivors include a daughter-in-law, Sharon Neathery, West Plains; two grandchildren, Shawn Neathery Marhefka and husband, Tom, West Plains, and Bret Neathery and wife, Beth, Springfield; four great grandchildren, Stephanie Marhefka, Elizabeth Marhefka, Hunter Neathery and a Robert Neathery IV; several leases, nephews and cousins; and special caregivers Jackie Engman and Cina Dix, both all West Plains. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; and one son, Robert F. Neathery Jr. Memorial contributions may be made to the West Plains Library Foundation, All Saints Episcopal Church or West Plains School Activities Fund and left at the funeral home. The body will lie in state at the funeral home from noon to 9 p.m. Wednesday.
Contributed on 3/5/15 by mjrwag
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Record #: 765990