Toney Aid - 2014
Toney Aid was named the recipient of the 2014 Distinguished Zizzer Alumni Award at the West Plains High School graduation on Thursday, May 15th. The annual award recognizes Zizzer graduates who are positive role models to students and have made a positive contribution to society.
Aid, a 1968 West Plains High School Graduate, is the owner of Aid Historic Properties and Aid Downtown Antique Mall and the CEO of Ozarks Small Business Incubator.
The most obvious and visible contributions Aid has made is the revitalization of the West Plains Downtown. He is truly a visionary. Where others see blight, he sees potential and acts on it. He uniquely combines his passion for history and historic preservations into relevancy for our community’s economic future. Aid is a researcher at heart and has been cited in scientific records and has had original articles published in quarterlies and journals on American Indians. Aid also contributed a chapter of a book on Confederate currency, as well as coauthoring two books on the history of West Plains.
An example of Aid’s dogged determination was to restore the Butler Building into the Ozarks Small Business Incubator. The incubator and several other buildings in the downtown area stand as testimony to his selflessness and love for West Plains.
Aid earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri and then a Master’s degree in Art History from the University of Missouri in 1973. He has served on the Missouri Preservation for a number of years and currently serves on the Industrial Development Corporation of West Plains. Aid has received many awards for his work in restoration over the years, including the Governor’s Community & Redevelopment Award and several awards from the West Plains Chamber of Commerce. Toney Aid is indeed a Distinguished Zizzer Alumni.
“Toney exemplifies what it means to be a true Zizzer. He is the ultimate nominee for the Distinguished Zizzer Alumni Award. He has worked his entire life for the betterment of our community”, said Dr. John Mulford, West Plains Schools Superintendent of Schools.