Ben F. Weir Jr.

Ben F. Weir Jr., died Saturday, Oct. 31, at his home in Columbia, Mo. An active and service-oriented civic leader in several Missouri and Colorado communities for over 40 years, he will be sorely missed by family, friends and many fellow professionals in the news and business worlds. He was 73.

Benjamin Franklin Weir Jr., was born Oct. 20, 1947, in Nevada, Mo., to Benjamin Franklin Weir Sr., and Ludmila Martha Vavra. Raised in Nevada, Ben Jr. was active in Scouting, attained the rank of Eagle, participated in National Jamborees, and was a camper and counselor at Cheley Colorado Camps in Estes Park, Colo.. He graduated from Nevada High School and attended the University of Missouri – Columbia, where he was a member of Kappa Alpha Order. He graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism degree with majors in Newspaper Publishing/Advertising in 1969. He served in the Missouri National Guard from 1969 to 1975.

Ben married Alicia Scheffler Sept. 19, 1973, in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Following in the footsteps of his journalism family, Weir served in numerous leadership capacities in six communities. He was General Manager of The Marshall Publishing Company, Marshall, Mo.; General Manager and Publisher of the Nevada Publishing Company, Nevada, Mo.; Publisher of the Examiner, a daily newspaper in Independence, Mo.; and General Manager of the Times-Call, a daily in Longmont, Colo. He carried the principles of journalism ethics he learned at the J-School to all of the newspapers and practiced those throughout his distinguished career.

Professionally, Weir was active in numerous state and national press and publishing associations. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Missourian Publishing Association and the Inland Press Association. Weir was elected to the Missouri Press Association Hall of Fame in 1999. He also served in leadership roles in all the communities where he lived. Ben was committed to peace and racial justice.

He served in leadership roles in all the communities where he lived. He was a Board Member or President of Rotary Clubs, and a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a Board Member or Chair of local Chambers of Commerce. He led fund-raising campaigns, founded a center for free enterprise, and was recognized for his outstanding service record.

Examples include: Lifetime Membership Award for Distinguished Service (Independence, Mo.); Harry S. Truman Special Recognition Award for Outstanding Community Service (Independence, Mo.); and Citizen of the Year (Nevada, Mo.). He also served on the commissioning committee for the USS Harry S. Truman, as one of 15 prominent Missourians overseeing fundraising for the ceremony.

His oft-stated operating philosophy was clear: “Count that day lost when you have not done something to make the community you serve a better place to live in, a better place to raise a family in and a better place to do business in.”

Family to Ben was paramount in his list of priorities. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather who loved family time at the Lake of the Ozarks and was always loyal to Mizzou. His best friend was his grandson, Sam. They loved building with Legos, playing with toy cars and watching Pet Corner together on KOMU in the evenings.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Lisa, of the home; a son, Robert Benjamin Weir (Kate) of Columbia, Mo.; a grandson, Samuel Benjamin Weir of Columbia; and a sister, Ludmila Ann Dickeson (Robert) of Estes Park, Colo.

Following Ben’s wishes, his body was cremated and his ashes will be scattered at his home at the Lake of the Ozarks. A memorial celebration will be held in the summer. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Rotary International’s Peace and Justice initiative, https://www.rotary.org/en/our-causes/promoting-peace, the Missouri Press Foundation, https://mopress.com/missouri-press-foundation/, or to the Central Missouri Humane Society, https://cmhspets.org.

Arrangements are under the direction of Parker-Millard Funeral Service and Crematory; 12 East Ash Street, Columbia, Mo.

Condolences may be left online for the family at www.ParkerMillard.com.