Skip Buehrle honored with Union Chamber's Long Haul Service Award
Skip Buehrle honored with Union Chamber’s Long Haul Service Award
Glennon “Skip” Buehrle was honored Thursday for a lifetime of giving back to the Union community.
Buehrle received the Long Haul Service Award from the Union Area Chamber of Commerce, earning a standing ovation from the audience of 70 people at the Union Community and Senior Center. The award, for people 65 and older who have contributed to Union, was voted on by previous winners, many of whom were in attendance.
“I’d like to thank the city of Union for giving me the opportunity to actually help serve the people of this community,” Buehrle said after receiving the trophy from 2024 Long Haul winners Ron and Pat Foan. “I love it very much and appreciate all the help that I get from everywhere that I go.”
As a longtime business owner, Buehrle said he always prepared for the next day.
“It takes a lot of planning sometimes. Well, I’m not prepared,” he said drawing laughs.
People in the community rely on Buehrle for his knowledge, good judgement, common sense and calm demeanor, Union Chamber board President Chris Dieckhaus said in introducing Buehrle.
Buehrle started B&S Heating and Cooling in 1978, retiring in 2018.
He served six years on the church council at Zion United Church of Christ in Union, three of those as council president.
“Skip was on the committee who built the new back entrance to the church,” Dieckhaus said. “During that three-month project, he rarely missed a day of work to help complete that project.”
Buehrle also worked closely with the Union police and fire departments on the church’s safety committee to number the church doors to improve emergency response, Dieckhaus noted.
He also served in a leadership role with the Knights of Columbus.
But Buehrle is probably best known in the community for his time as a volunteer and board member with Franklin County Honor Flight.
Between 2007 and 2023, Franklin County Honor Flight took more than 2,500 veterans from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War on flights to Washington, D.C. The veterans and guardians visited monuments and sites around Washington.
Buehrle made 23 flights as a guardian and also served as chairman on the virtual Honor Flight in October 2024, the last event Franklin County Honor Flight held before disbanding.
The virtual event was intended for veterans who could not make the trips to Washington, D.C.
“This involved two years of detailed planning and coordination,” Dieckhaus said.
Buehrle also maintained the trailer Honor Flight used to transfer 15 wheelchairs for veterans to use on the trip to St. Louis Lambert International Airport.
“And after each trip, he repaired the ones that were damaged,” Dieckhaus said.
Buehrle and his wife, Pat, also helped design memorable Union Chamber of Commerce events, including Distinguished Service Awards banquets and Long Haul barbecues, Dieckhaus added.
Buehrle coached girls softball and served on the advisory board at East Central College.
Buehrle also received a 5 Gallon Pin from the American Red Cross, recognizing his substantial blood and platelet donations over the years.
Buehrle told The Missourian he learned to give back after being raised in a family of 12 children.
“People were always helping us out,” he said. “I learned from my mom and dad that you have to give back to the community.”
It was an “amazing feeling” to be recognized, Buehrle said. “It’s something that happens maybe once in a lifetime,” he said. “I’m happy and honored to be part of the Union community.”
Former Union Police Chief Norman Brune received the Runner Up Award, while Dr. Virgil Weideman and Lester and Delores Swoboda were also nominated for the Long Haul award.
