Missouri Main Street Connection awarded the Spirit of Main Street Legacy Award to Rex Smarr during Missouri’s Premier Downtown Revitalization Conference’s Evening of Excellence Legacy Awards Ceremony and Dinner at Veridian Events.
Smarr received this legacy award for decades worth of lasting impact that transformed the culture of community pride and involvement in Warrensburg along with the downtown district itself.
Since Warrensburg Main Street began in 1994, Smarr has been there. He joined the group of local business owners because he saw first-hand Warrensburg’s challenges and potential from his job at an insurance office downtown.
Smarr reflects on his involvement, sharing, “I felt like it was always important to be involved in the community… Downtown is the heart of the city… Bringing people downtown and buying into that success can change people’s perception of how the city is.”
Smarr has served on all four Main Street committees and contributed to countless special projects, including a multi-year, multi-phase streetscape project that modernized Warrensburg’s downtown; a memorial brick campaign that physically and emotionally connected families to the district in a lasting way; seasonal banners and holiday garland across more than 50 downtown light poles with the help of friends and family to assist; Fashion Becomes Art; and Day of Caring.
He also assisted the organization achieve National and State Accreditation in 2009, a milestone that reflected years of strategic planning, dedication, and community support.
His children are part of his Main Street legacy as they grew up watching his commitment to community and followed in his footsteps, carrying that same passion into their own lives. His sons, Kevin and Darin, have been actively involved in Warrensburg Main Street in a variety of roles. Smarr is still there today, 30+ years later, as a true spirit of Main Street who inspires others through a life of service, humility, leadership, and passion, and for that he deserves the Spirit of Main Street Legacy Award.
Release courtesy of Warrensburg Main Street.
