Mayor to receive MU Alumni Award

Fulton mayor LeRoy Benton is set to receive the Mizzou Alumni Association's Annual Alumni-Faculty Award from Callaway County's branch this month. Callaway County's Alumni Association branch will present Benton with the honor, recognizing his achievements as a University of Missouri alumnus, at a 5:30 p.m. meeting on Thursday, April 26, at Sir Winston's Restaurant and Pub.

Benton, who was elected mayor in 2010, was born in Farmington and graduated from MU in 1966 with a bachelor's in business science before serving in the US Army for three years. He then went on to serve on the board of directors of his father's company, Sanders Truck Line, and eventually bought out and became President and CEO of Niedergerke Truck Line, which brought him to Fulton in the mid-70s. From there he got into the real estate business and served on several committees and boards before he made the switch into the public sector as a 1st Ward city council member and, currently, Fulton mayor.

His achievements have earned him the recommendation from members of the Fulton community for the Alumni Award, which Benton said is humbling.

"You typically go through life doing what you think is best, and it's nice to be recognized for it and know that others think what you're doing is right as well," said Benton.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.