Seventeen Missourians Named Missouri’s Most Engaged Neighbors for 2026

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Seventeen Missourians whose everyday actions build relationships, create belonging and encourage neighbors to care for one another have been selected as Missouri’s Most Engaged Neighbors for 2026.

The honorees were selected from 78 nominations submitted as part of Missouri Good Neighbor Week, celebrated annually Sept. 28-Oct. 4.

The 2026 Missouri Most Engaged Neighbor honorees are:

●        Paul and Ann Morrison — Fremont Hills 

●        Roy Howard — Blue Springs

●        Meg and Brett Holmes — St. Louis

●        Shawna Galbreath — Fulton

●        Les Cassil — Columbia

●        Sharon Shortino — Lee’s Summit

●        Becky Wiginton — Marble Hill

●        Gretchen Frederick — Fremont Hills

●        Carl Murdock — Republic

●        Elijah Cramer — Springfield

●        Tom Greene — Forsyth

●        Dennis Petersen — Fremont Hills

●        Terry Schwoeppe — Labadie

●        Sam Hutton — Lee’s Summit

●        Ray Bauer — Sunrise Beach

●        Tim and Cathy Warner — Mountain Grove

●        Cora Boothe — Excelsior Springs

“Being a good neighbor can mean being quiet and respectful. An engaged neighbor goes further,” said David Burton, community development specialist with University of Missouri Extension and founder of Missouri Good Neighbor Week. “Engaged neighbors learn names, notice needs, bring people together and take action. These 17 honorees demonstrate what intentional neighboring looks like in communities of every size.”

More Than Community Service

Burton said an important distinction in selecting this year’s honorees was separating community service from engaged neighboring.

“Community service is valuable, but this is not an award for the longest volunteer résumé,” Burton said. “We were looking for evidence that nominees intentionally develop relationships with the people living around them. Do they know people? Do they notice when someone needs help? Do they introduce neighbors to one another? Do their actions help others feel that they belong?”

The nomination process defines an engaged neighbor as someone who intentionally builds connection, notices needs and helps others feel they belong. Selection focused not simply on what nominees did, but on what changed because of their actions—whether neighbors know one another better, help each other more often, include more people, check on one another or develop new friendships.

Neighboring Takes Many Forms

The 17 honorees demonstrate that engaged neighboring can look very different from one community to another.

Paul and Ann Morrison of Nixa welcome newcomers, introduce neighbors to one another, open their home, check on people during illness and storms, and help residents navigate challenges. Their nomination describes a couple whose consistent presence has helped transform proximity into genuine relationships.

Roy Howard of Blue Springs demonstrates the importance of paying attention. He notices needs, provides practical and emotional support, includes others and intentionally develops relationships with the people around him.

Meg and Brett Holmes of St. Louis demonstrate the role neighborhood leadership can play in neighboring. Through their involvement in LaSalle Park, they bring residents together, encourage participation, connect people and institutions, and help neighbors work collectively on issues affecting their neighborhood.

Shawna Galbreath of Fulton has supported a grieving neighbor, cared for children who needed attention and intentionally included a deaf neighbor in conversations through sign language, all examples of neighboring rooted in noticing and including people who might otherwise be overlooked.

Les Cassil of Columbia has practiced daily neighboring for 17 years. He maintains a shared private road, removes snow, welcomes newcomers, lends tools and shares his knowledge, becoming an important source of neighborhood history and information.

Sharon Shortino of Lee’s Summit demonstrates the power of everyday consistency by welcoming newcomers, knowing and communicating with neighbors, assisting older residents and creating a sense that someone nearby is paying attention.

Becky Wiginton of Marble Hill creates opportunities for people to help one another through gardens, workdays, shared spaces and connections to useful resources. Her nomination illustrates how, especially in a small town, community-building can function much like neighborhood-building when relationships remain at the center.

Connection, Belonging and Everyday Care

Gretchen Frederick of Fremont Hills welcomes newcomers, shares produce from her garden, checks on neighbors and uses everyday gestures to create belonging.

Carl Murdock of Republic knows neighbors by name, reaches out regularly and intentionally connects residents with one another. His nomination includes examples of turning simple encounters into conversations and relationships, including introducing neighbors who might otherwise never have connected.

At just 18, Elijah Cramer of Springfield demonstrates that engaged neighboring has no age requirement. His nomination describes his intentional friendship with an isolated autistic neighbor as well as his efforts to check on and assist an older neighbor recovering from a medical crisis.

Tom Greene of Forsyth represents another hallmark of engaged neighboring: quietly helping without seeking recognition. His nomination describes years of mowing for a family dealing with disability, making repairs, providing transportation, searching for lost pets and watching over neighbors’ homes.

Dennis Petersen of Nixa was recognized for the consistent ways he invests in the people living around him, demonstrating that strong neighborhoods grow from repeated personal interactions rather than one-time events.

Terry Schwoeppe of Labadie has responded during emergencies, cleared snow for older neighbors and even interrupted his own farm work to assist a stranded neighbor.

For 26 years, Sam Hutton of Lee’s Summit has built relationships, welcomed others and checked on people to such an extent that neighbors describe their relationship with him as being much like family.

Ray Bauer of Sunrise Beach was recognized for consistent personal assistance, noticing needs and responding with practical care.

Tim and Cathy Warner of Mountain Grove demonstrate how consistent investment in the people around them can strengthen relationships and create a greater sense of connection and belonging.

Cora Boothe of Excelsior Springs has invested in neighborhood relationships through gatherings, cleanups, meals for older residents and efforts specifically designed to connect people with one another.

From Good Neighbor to Engaged Neighbor

The selections reinforce a central message of Missouri Good Neighbor Week: strong communities are built through relationships.

“Neighbor is a noun, but neighboring is a verb,” Burton said. “Some of these honorees lead neighborhood efforts. Others simply pay close attention to the handful of people living around them. Both can be powerful when the result is stronger relationships.”

Burton said neighboring does not require a title, large event or significant budget.

“You can begin by learning the names of the people who live closest to you,” Burton said. “Then learn something about them. Invite them to sit in the driveway or share a meal. Those seemingly small actions accumulate, and eventually people who simply lived near one another begin to depend on one another.”

Every person nominated for the award will receive a letter informing them of their nomination and a memento recognizing their participation. The top selections also receive a prize check that they can use as they wish.

Missouri Good Neighbor Week is observed annually from Sept. 28 through Oct. 4 and encourages Missourians to take intentional steps to know and engage the people who live around them. Its larger goal is to inspire year-round neighboring that strengthens connection, belonging and communities across Missouri. Additional information available at https://missourigoodneighborweek.org/.

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