Richard Eichhorst — a lifelong Lemay resident, local historian, veteran and educator — recently received the Pioneer in Education award presented by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

The Pioneer in Education award is presented in recognition of “distinguished careers and extraordinary lifetime contributions” in state and local public education. DESE and the State Board of Education have presented this award to individuals since 1974.

Eichhorst has been involved in public education for more than three decades. He spent 31 years serving in the Hancock Place School District — of which he is an alumnus — as a teacher, coach, principal and assistant superintendent. He also served in the U.S. Army and holds a Doctorate in Education from Saint Louis University.

Eichhorst’s accomplishments don’t stop at education, but expand into his athletic career, where he played basketball in college at Southeast Missouri State University. In 2009, he was inducted into the Southeast Missouri Athletics Hall of Fame for his athletic contributions to the university. During the 1961-1962 NBA season, Eichhorst played in one game as a member of the St. Louis Hawks — an NBA franchise that played in the city from 1955-68 before relocating to Atlanta.

Beyond his personal accomplishments, Eichhorst has been involved in various civic organizations like the Friends of Jefferson Barracks and the American Cancer Society’s South County Chapter. He has also held leadership positions in the Affton-Lemay Chamber of Commerce, and in 2024, he was named its Citizen of the Year.

“Dr. Eichhorst embodies the true spirit of a pioneer,” the Lemay Community Historical Society stated in a press release. “Decades of tireless devotion to our local schools, his student-athletes and our neighborhood’s history have left an indelible mark on Lemay. We are thrilled to see his lifetime of public service recognized at the highest state level.”