The Luverne Area Chamber Board of Directors honored Mike Cox as the 2018 Outstanding Chamber Member during an after-hours reception Monday in Sterling’s Café & Grille.
The Chamber annually selects a local individual to honor with the award, which recognizes personal and professional contributions to the community.
The award was developed in 2005 to honor retired persons who have modeled compassion and service, and Chamber Director Jane Wildung Lanphere said Cox represents these qualities and represents the best of Luverne.
“He has dedicated his existence to those he loves … his family, faith, and people he serves,” Chamber Board President Kevin Thelen said Monday night.
“We know that Mike is a person that the community has and can continue to count on to meet the needs of individuals, businesses, organizations and institutions.”
Cox said he was stunned to learn that he would receive the award.
“I suppose that’s how we should all react to receiving an award,” he told the Star Herald Monday. “That’s not why you do the things you do.”
Mike and Cheryl moved to Luverne in 1975 to manage and eventually own a retail hardware store and variety store on Main Street after Nelson Brothers Department Store closed.
“Mike immediately became a strong proponent of downtown retail where he served as an active member on the Chamber’s Retail Committee for the 14 years he was in the retail business,” Thelen shared at the reception.
“He worked continually supporting Chamber and business initiatives in the community throughout his life in Luverne. Mike has been an active member of the Luverne Area Chamber for 44 years and has served in the position of vice-president and president.”
In 1989 Mike sold the retail business and opened Main Street Financial Services, which “became one of the important foundations of the Luverne financial service industry,” Thelen said.
He retired in December 2018 and sold the business and then opened a consulting business, Blue Mound Consulting Group, which helps businesses expand operations.
Persons honored as Outstanding Chamber Members demonstrate qualities of compassion and service to a variety of community organizations and institutions.
Mike Cox’s contributions include a wide diversity of service:
•Volunteer baseball and basketball coach.
•Served over 30 years as high school and college football and basketball referee.
•Past member of St. Catherine’s Parish Finance Council (six years).
•Past member of the Steering Committee for the Southwest CEO Program.
•Past member and chairman of Rock County Planning and Zoning Committee.
•Participated in Toastmasters of Luverne and Luverne Jaycees.
•Participated in the Blandin Leadership Program.
•Past member of the Luverne Rotary Club.
•Past member and president of the Luverne School Foundation.
•Served as a member of the steering committee to build the Hospice Cottage.
•Served on the Steering Committee for the last two (successful) school bond building referendums.
•Past member of the Luverne Community Economic Development Commission.
•Served on many community fundraising project committees.
Today he actively volunteers for hospice and is a member (and past president) of the Luverne Area Community Foundation.
“We thank him and honor him today for his service to all the people of Luverne, Rock County and the world in which we live,” Thelen said.