State senator pays tribute to the late Fred Lemons

(In a portion of his latest newsletter, Sen. Ron Richard, R-Joplin, paid tribute to Lockwood banker Fred Lemons, who died recently. The accompanying photo shows Mr. Lemons with his wife, former Lockwood Mayor LaRue Lemons.)

Our region lost Fred Lemons, a great man who understood the importance of supporting his community. In 1998, Fred started the Lockwood Community Foundation and created the Lockwood School Foundation and the Lockwood Chamber of Commerce.

As mentioned in a moving article by the Community Foundation of the Ozarks about Fred’s legacy recently featured in the Springfield News-Leader, “The tragedy is not in Fred’s passing—as was noted as his funeral, Fred and life did not cheat each other—but that the world desperately needs more people like Fred Lemons, not fewer. He was a giant of his community—a leader, a rallying point, and a reasonable voice—the kind of man more towns desperately need if they are to thrive in the future.”

We all mourn Fred’s passing. My deepest condolences to his friends and family.