ANNE SCHALL AWARD

Best Design - Late Show

By Jim Morris

The Anne Schall Award for the Best Design at our Late Show was initiated in 1987. It is a traveling silver bowl mounted on a walnut wood pedestal. It has been awarded annually except for six years when we had Ikebana designs for display only or in years when we did not have a late show.

For many years the Greater St. Louis Iris Society met in the city of Brentwood in the City Hall on Brentwood Blvd. Our Secretary of the time (mid to late 1960s and early 1970s) was Anna (Anne) Mesko Schall (1904-1984). She lived and gardened a little over a block away. GSLIS honored her first with an AIS silver medal made into a necklace for her many years as GSLIS Secretary, then with this award.

Anne was quite a lady. She was born August 17, 1904 in Whiting, Indiana, grew up in Rolla, Missouri where her Hungarian-American father was a noted bricklayer, and spent the major part of her life in Brentwood. She and her husband Charles raised two daughters, Shirley and Betty here. Later Betty Schall Gore moved into her mother's house on Rosalie Ave. Anne had five grandchildren and three grandchildren at the time of her death.

Anne Schall was appointed Brentwood city clerk in 1943, was elected Brentwood tax collector in 1945 and held that post for 32 years through 1977. After her retirement, she worked as a city tax consultant for another three years.

In 1969 Schall served as co-chairman for her city's celebration of the U>S> Bicentennial and also helped create the local Maddenfest celebration. In 1974, Schall received the Rotary Club "Service Above Self" award and in 1982 was named "Citizen of the Year" by the Chamber of Commerce. She was a past president of the St. Louis County Business and Professional Women's Club. Anne died December 9, 1984 while in the process of forming the Brentwood Historical Society, a thriving organization that promises that she won't be forgotten. Anne Schall loved her family, her town and her irises.

The list of Best Design winners at our Late Show follows:

1987.................Jo-An Finke
1988.................Sue Delmez
1989.................Brad Eilering
1990.................Jo-An Finke
1991.................Rita Kinsella & Lu Dickhaut (tie)
1992.................Rita Kinsella
1993.................Nadine Wallenstein
1994.................Louise Bellagamba
1995.................Vince Italian
1996-2001........Ikebana Displays Only
2002.................Jean Morris
2003.................Nadine Wallenstein
2004.................Jean Morris
2005.................No Show
2006.................Ginni Hill
2007-2013........No Show

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