Nuessen, Richards to go into Chamber Business Hall of Fame

The Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce will induct two business leaders at its Business Hall of Fame Ceremony on Wednesday, January 18 2023 at 11:30 am at the Oakley Lindsay Center.

The Business Hall of Fame was started in 2006 to honor current and past business leaders, businesses and organizations, who have made important contributions to the Quincy area business community.

The Class of 2023 will include Carl W. Richards, Richards Electric Company and C. David Nuessen of Quincy Metal Fabricators and mayor of Quincy 1977-1985.

“This years’ honorees exemplify excellence and have made remarkable contributions to our community on so many levels”, said Bruce Guthrie, President/CEO, Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce. “The Chamber Hall of Fame allows us to celebrate the substantial investment of innovators, leaders and business owners whose efforts have made the Quincy community a better place.”

Carl W. Richards

Richards was the founder, owner, president and at the time of his death in 2004, chair of the Board of Directors of Richards Electric Motor.

He built Richards Electric Motor from a small husband-and-wife motor repair shop to a business providing quality skilled jobs for 40 or more employees. The multifaceted business sells and repairs electrical motors from small-to-large. The business can repair most anything electrical, including welders, generators, cranes, and hoists.

Richards Electric Motor helps keep businesses functioning that are dependent upon electric motors and equipment. The business provides electrical components and panels for equipment manufactured by many of the area’s businesses. Equipment made by Richards Electric Motor is in every state as well as many locations internationally.

The company is located at 2028 Quintron Way, Quincy.

C. David Nuessen

C. David Nuessen’s contributions include development of Quincy Metal Fabricators and his public
service as mayor from 1977-1985.

A study was conducted in the late 1970’s to gauge the supply needs for industrial companies and found that large employers identified the need for a metal fabricator in the Quincy area. During his first election for mayor, Nuessen advocated for the formation of a business industrial park. Once elected, he formed a private foundation called the Great River Development Foundation which raised $715,000 to purchase land for what is now called the Schneidman Industrial Park.

Even though he was serving as mayor, Nuessen worked with his family to establish Quincy Metal
Fabricators in 1982 along with his brother, Dan, and his father, Carl. Quincy Metal Fabricators was one of the first buildings to be built in the Schneidman Industrial Park.

Forty years later, their ability to manufacture the most sophisticated products and exceed quality and service requirements has given Quincy Metal Fabricators a national name and reputation.

Nuessen’s contributions to the community also include a stint on the Adams County Board from 1972 to 1977. He was then elected Mayor in 1977 at the age of 31, becoming Quincy’s youngest mayor in its history and was re-elected in 1981.

As mayor, Nuessen also saw the changing retail climate away from downtowns and toward malls. He formed a committee called “Uptown Quincy Forward” with pledges from the community amounting to $400,000. That committee led to Uptown Quincy, Inc., which evolved into the Historic Quincy Business District.

Later, he was elected to the Quincy Public School Board, serving two years as president, and he currently sits on the Quincy University Board of Trustees.

Nuessen also served as the co-chair with Chuck Scholz on the Quincy Next Strategic Plan and
advocated for its adoption.

The Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting/Business Hall of Fame Ceremony is open to the public. The cost is $35 per person and includes lunch. Reservations are required by Friday January 13, 2023, and can be made at www.quincychamber.org.