George Stephen Beimdiek, Sr.

Industry Leader

George Beimdiek Sr. was born in St. Louis in 1876 and made his home in Carthage in 1905 after earning his law degree. In 1910 he married Ida Brinkerhoff of Carthage. Despite being a member of the Jasper County Bar Association, he never practiced law in Carthage.

Mr. Beimdiek chose business over law and, shortly after coming to Carthage, he organized the Superior Limestone Company and was the treasurer of Superior Limestone, then went on to be president and general manager of Carthage Marble and White Limestone until the quarries were consolidated as Carthage Marble Corp. in 1927.

He served as president of First National Bank from 1927 to 1931 until it merged with Central National Bank. He was also one of the early directors of Jasper County Savings and Loan from 1931 to 1943.

In 1935 he became president of Leggett & Platt and held that position until 1953. He remained on the board until 1959. In 1932 Mr. Beimdiek had formed an association with B. L. Van Hoose and the B-V Realty and Investment was formed.

He served on the Vestry of Grace Episcopal church for over 20 years, serving several terms as Senior Warden. He was on the McCune Brooks hospital board for 25 years and those years were during the construction of the new hospital built in 1929 and located on Centennial.

He served on the board of many clubs and service organizations. He was an early board member of the YMCA, and a member of Carthage Council No. 41 Royal and Select Masters and Abou Ben Adhem Shrine, and was honored as a fifty year member of Carthage Council, United Commercial Travelers.

He became ill in October 1960 while visiting in St. Louis and before he could recover he fractured a hip in a fall and never recovered enough to return to his home. He was moved from St. Louis to Carthage so he was able to be in the hospital that he helped create when he died on February 10, 1963.