German American Heritage Society

121 S. Meramec Ave., Box 1142, Saint Louis, MO 63105 USA, E-mail: gahs-stl@earthlink.net    

St. Louis - The German American Heritage Society of Saint Louis (GAHS) president, Lansing Hecker (right), presents the organization’s annual Carl Schurz Heritage Award to Joseph T. Daues (left) at their “A Taste of Germany” Benefit Dinner & Auction on 24 September 2011 at Sunset Country Club.

 

The GAHS award recognizes an individual or organization for their "dedication to the preservation of the history and heritage of our German forebears".

 

For the past 26 years, Joe Daues has helped French-founded St. Charles, Missouri find and miraculously grow its German roots, both locally and internationally. Five years after joining the St. Charles County German American Heritage Society in 1985, he was elected their president and served with distinction from 1990 to 1994.

 

In 1994, Daues spearheaded the incorporation of the St. Charles Sister Cities program, which he then led as its president for 14 highly-productive years. His initial search for St. Charles’ first sister city in Germany successfully culminated in a landmark twinning agreement two years later with Ludwigsburg, Germany near Stuttgart (St. Louis’ Sister City). Since then, he has developed one of the most-successful sister city exchange programs in Missouri for German language high school students, St. Charles-Ludwigsburg Sister Cities members and local citizens. His organization annually raises funds to pay teacher airfare, as well as provide financial stipends to several students from each high school.

 

Over the years, Daues estimates that approximately 1,200 high school foreign language students from both St. Charles and Ludwigsburg sister cities have participated in the program. He has also led adult exchanges, including one “more than a bus load” group of 70 St. Charles Sister Cities members and citizens to Ludwigsburg.

 

For 44 years, Daues also built an enduring reputation in the local insurance industry as a Certified Insurance Counselor with St. Charles Insurance. He has served as president of the St. Charles County Insurance Agents Association in 1981, as well as the St. Charles Kiwanis Club in 1978.  As a 40 year member, a five-year Board Member and 1986 president of the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce, Daues has been recognized as the Chamber’s 1989 “Small Business Person of the Year” and 1997 “Civic Person of the Year”. He is also a U.S. Army veteran.

 

Joe and his wife, Marcia, are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this year with their three sons’ families, which include five grand children.

 

 

Pat, Lou                                                          Pot of Gold winners

  

Emily, Hank, Gini                               Walt, Jackie                                         Susie

 

Shirley, Don                                                Traude, Margaret, Joan, Susanne