After a lifetime in public education, Tom Lawson made the move back to his hometown in 1988, assuming he would find something to occupy his time. Thirty years later, he continues to be a familiar face around the community by beginning a second career in city government.
Lawson and wife, Jeane, made the decision to return to Poplar Bluff to care for her parents after his retirement in 1987 as superintendent at the Hazelwood School District.
"On the way back to Poplar Bluff, my wife said, 'You have been busy all your life. What are you going to do when we get to Poplar Bluff,'" Lawson recalled.
Admitting he had no set plans, Lawson said he would find something that interested him.
"You know me, I want to do something to help my hometown," Lawson told his wife.
Lawson's passion to stay involved comes from wanting to see improvements no matter where he resides.
Coming from humble beginnings, born in Boydin, two and half miles southeast of Neelyville, Lawson said, "the poor people called us poor."
While growing up and improving himself through continuing his education by eventually earning his doctorate and the help of "good folks," Lawson said he could "see a light at the end of the tunnel."
"I have chose to make things better not only for me, but for everyone else," he said. "And I'm still doing that."
Lawson said he has always wanted to see Poplar Bluff as a place that had opportunities for everyone, so that is what he continues to try to achieve.
Shortly after returning home, he was asked by the city manager and council members to be the chairman of a campaign to pass a half-cent capital improvement tax.
Lawson said he was approached because the group knew he had experience with Hazelwood School District in passing levee and bond issues.
He agreed and in April 1989, the half-cent capital improvement tax was passed to include a 10-year sunset.
Later that year, Lawson was then asked to go to work for the city of Poplar Bluff as the city planner.
"I finally agreed," he said. "I didn't know if I really wanted to or not."
After City Manager Jim Moss resigned, Lawson was named city manager in 1991 and served in that position until 2003, when he retired.
"During that time a lot of things were being done with the revenue from the capital improvements tax," he said. "The city was in need of police cars, city equipment, fire department equipment and street improvements."
At the time, there were 26 miles of unpaved roads and the city was looking at a possible community building to host city council and other meetings.
Lawson said with the exception of the community building effort, all other projects were started.
Several long discussions followed about what else needed to be done in Poplar Bluff.
Discussions spurred of a coliseum-type building after visiting the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau and Civic Center in West Plains, Mo., Lawson said.
"Thank goodness enough were in favor of that," he said.
While the dream of the Black River Coliseum was still just that, Lawson said many other improvements were needed, including the golf course and library expansions and a park department facility.
"There was a lot of need for additional funds that a 10-year sunset was not going to provide," Lawson said of the capital improvement tax.
The city council agreed to ask the citizens of Poplar Bluff to vote to remove the sunset and extend the half-cent capital improvement tax with no sunset in 1995.
"Those efforts were passed," he said. "From that time on, it meant good revenue would be coming in for capital improvements every year."
A bond issue was then established for 20 years for a 5,000-seat facility with $12 million toward the coliseum and $2 million for the indoor pool.
Not a part of the original idea, the Veterans Wall was later added during construction.
The Black River Coliseum was completed in 1999.
The toughest part of the Coliseum project, Lawson said, was to convince everyone on the downtown location.
"I think it has been a real pride and great asset to Poplar Bluff to help things happening in downtown," he said. "I'm proud of what's going on outside, but I don't want to see downtown suffer."
Lawson admits his one regret was not focusing more on downtown while city manager.
"I was spending time on growth and economic development," he said.
The bond also helped add 10,000 square feet to the library, expand the golf course and the sports complex at McLane Park. The bond will be paid off in 2019.
After his retirement from the city in 2003, Lawson remained very interested and actively involved in the community.
His first role after retirement from the city was to serve on a highway coalition board to begin discussions with cities from Farmington to Walnut Ridge, Ark., regarding expanding Highway 67 to four lanes.
Like many, Lawson said he realized improvements were needed from Fredericktown, Mo., to Poplar Bluff.
He was named the chairman of the Highway 67 Coalition Board in 2004, which was compiled of 12 members from Poplar Bluff.
Once again with help from the city council, a half-cent road improvement tax was passed by voters. It had a 69 percent majority.
"We had 29 meetings in three months and that's what it takes," Lawson said. "Everyone realized the importance of safety."
Discussions with the Missouri Department of Transportation began and led to Poplar Bluff's agreement to fund half the construction cost of the estimated $60 million project.
"The highway didn't cost as much as originally thought and financial help from Senator Kit Bond and Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson helped reduce what we owed," he said.
In 2020, Poplar Bluff's portion of Highway 67 will be paid off after just 14 years.
"It was a huge benefit to four-lane the road and it spurred other things like Shelby Road," Lawson said. "Once it's finished, you will continue to see growth."
Lawson also credits the groundwork that was done on Highway 67 for the growth at Oak Grove Road.
"I'm very proud of that," he said. "Support is something you have to have to get something like this done."
That support has come from many individuals over the years, but he said it has always started at home from his wife, Jeane.
At 86 years old, Lawson continues to find new ventures in the area. The most current includes the Interstate 57 efforts.
While much is still in question due to funding availability and project priority, Lawson regularly attends meetings to stay informed on the process.
"I think Interstate 57 will be a great asset to Poplar Bluff and Southeast Missouri when it happens," he said. "I have been blessed with good health, but I'm understanding things like this take a long time, so I hope I'm still a healthy guy when all this is done."
In addition to staying up-to-date on the future Interstate 57 project, Lawson said since retirement he is able to spend more time with his wife. They enjoy visiting with their daughter and son-in-law, Terry and Nick.
"We also try to keep up with the activities of our six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren who reside in Missouri, Illinois and North Carolina," he said.
He's also a member of the First Baptist Church and belongs to the Highway 67 board, Housing Authority, Rescue Mission and Poplar Bluff Scholarship Foundation.
"I hope I have helped," he said. "Thanks to everyone who has been a help to me."