Crane, Schmideskamp enter Chamber Hall of Fame

QUINCY – One of the joys Anthony “Tony” Crane has found in life is being able to give back to the region he calls home.

“I have always wanted to keep engaged in community service,” he said.

And Crane has done just that.

Even though Crane is what he terms “semi-retired,” he remains busy with a wide variety of projects designed to better Quincy and the surrounding area.

Many of Crane’s accomplishments through a 47-year career in business were dutifully noted Wednesday when he and the late Carl Schmideskamp, a longtime Quincy attorney, were inducted into the Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce Business Hall of Fame.

Both Crane and Schmideskamp were feted before a crowd of 360 at the Oakley-Lindsay Center.

“I had no idea I had even been nominated,” Crane said. “I was totally shocked when (recently) informed of the honor.”  

Crane, 73, was a founding partner and a past officer in the Architectural and Engineering firm of Architechnics, Inc., an organization that he still serves as an architectural consultant. 

“I like to keep involved and help when I can,” Crane said. “The Quincy (region) has always been a special place.”

Crane has played a pivotal role in many major building projects, both in Quincy and Northeast Missouri. He played an active role in creating such landmarks as John Wood Community College, Quincy Art Center, Oakley-Lindsay Center and the Johnson-Turner IDEA (Innovation, Design, and Experiential Activities) Center on the campus of Culver-Stockton College. 

“I have enjoyed working on these kinds of projects,” said Crane, who has always been attracted by the uniqueness of undertakings that are designed to be an integral part of a community’s fabric.

Crane is a graduate of Culver-Stockton and has served as a member of the school’s board of trustees since 2011 and sits on the facilities and technology, finance, trusteeship and presidential review committees. Crane has also served on the two most recent presidential search committees

Crane has been involved in leadership roles with such organizations as the Rotary Club of Quincy, Vermont Street United Methodist Church, the Woodland Home of Quincy and the City of Quincy Building Commission.

Beyond his professional achievements, Crane has been an active community volunteer. He has earned the Distinguished Service Award from the Quincy Jaycees, the Rotary Foundation District 6460 Service Award and the Presidential Citation for Integrity on behalf of the Rotary Club of Quincy. Crane is a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary International Foundation.

Del Mitchell of the Schmiedeskamp Robertson Neu Mitchell LLP law firm represented Schmideskamp at the induction ceremony.

“Carl died in 1987, and I’m sure the vast majority here today did not know him, but he was the consummate lawyer,” said Mitchell, a lawyer himself for 55 years and a member of the firm since 1969.

Mitchell said Schmideskamp “strove for excellence” and expected that of the firm’s staff, which now totals 18 attorneys.Schmiedeskamp Robertson Neu Mitchell handles cases in 44 states, plus Europe and Asia. The firm celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2014.

Schmiedeskamp was a distinguished trial lawyer and corporate attorney who left an indelible mark on Quincy’s business and civic landscape. The driving force behind Schmiedeskamp Robertson Neu Mitchell, he represented many past hall of fame inductees and other key business leaders.

“Carl represented a lot of the well-known business names in Quincy history,” Mitchell said.

Schmiedeskamp’s leadership extended beyond the courtroom. He was a founding member of the Moorman Foundation (now the CFM Foundation), long-time chairman of the Quincy Area Project, and a board member for organizations such as Mercantile Trust and Savings Bank and the Family Service Agency of Adams County.

The Business Hall of Fame, established in 2006, recognizes individuals and organizations for impactful contributions to the Quincy area business community.

“This year’s honorees exemplify excellence and have made remarkable contributions to our community on so many levels,” said Bruce Guthrie, chamber president and chief executive officer. “The Business Hall of Fame allows us to celebrate the substantial investments of innovators, leaders and business owners who efforts have made Quincy a better place.”

Also singled out at the ceremony were Caitlin Foss and Morgan Parker.

Foss was named Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassador of the Year, while Parker was lauded as the Young Professional of the Year.

Foss is the business development manager for CLEAN Restoration. She aids the chamber by assisting with a variety of its civic duties and different functions.

Parker is the director of community relations for the Quincy Medical Group and director of the QMG Foundation.