Fred Alexander

Robert Frederick (Freddie) Alexander passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by his family on March 31, 2026. He was 90.

Fred was born November 13, 1935 in Boonville MO to Harold Bradley and Ruth Katharine (Kueckelhan) Alexander. On August 16, 1958 he was united in marriage with Barbara Miller of Fayette.

Fred contracted encephalitis at the age of 5 and was unable to speak or walk for some time and was delayed in starting school. He graduated from Fayette High School in the class of 1954.  In high school, he played basketball and was active in the Future Farmers of America where he earned the State Farmer Degree in ‘54. After graduation he attended Central College of Fayette (Now Central Methodist University), the University of Missouri, and finally returned to Central. Rather than finish the final semester to graduate from Central, Fred instead started his own ready-mix concrete business in Fayette, cleverly named Freddi-Mix. His business expanded to eventually include plants in Glasgow and Boonville as well as Fayette. Among his most notable projects include the concrete elevator for Henry Summers in Fayette (now Fayette MFA), which required 24-hour concrete delivery for a week.  It was during this week, Fred left the project just long enough to clean up and get married, but returned to work before dawn the next day.

In the mid 1970’s, Fred began strip mining coal near Higbee and this adventure defined his life and fueled stories for the rest of his life. In 1991, he was invited by the US government to join a 20-member delegation to the Soviet Union to tour coal facilities to share information and technology. This delegation was a small part of Mikhail Gorbachev’s Perestroika reform, an effort to bring Soviet industries into modern times. Just weeks after his visit, an attempted coup led to the collapse and dissolution of the communist Soviet government, as hard liners opposing the reforms attempted to take over and end the reforms but were rebuked by the people.

The coal mine also gave Fred access to dynamite, which was occasionally involved in some of his legendary capers, one of which involved a stump at the Fayette Golf Club.

When coal mining in Howard County ended, Fred applied his expertise to rock quarries. He was brought in by Boone Quarries to revive an ambitious but struggling project to quarry rock underground and preserve the caverns for use as underground storage. The caverns were particularly suited to cold storage as the constant temperature and humidity underground made it efficient to keep cool. He was successful in reorganizing the project and the underground storage facility created is still in operation today. In one instance, a portion of the rock ceiling of the cavern collapsed and hundreds or thousands of tons of rock fell to the ground just moments after Fred had been inside inspecting the conditions prior to resuming operations.

In his later years, Fred operated an excavation business and had a passion for building lakes and ponds, He applied this by building Meadow Lakes Estates, a residential subdivision which incorporated several lakes Fred designed and built on the property.

Fred also operated the family farm, raising cattle and growing crops during every phase of his life. Fred took great pride in serving Central Methodist University as a member of the Board of Curators and later the Board of Trustees. He helped a struggling campus see its way through tight economic times in the early 1980’s. Some say Central would have closed at the time if it weren’t for Fred’s leadership and understanding of the facilities by restarting a coal boiler and providing the college with coal on credit at a time when the college could not pay. He was the first to speak up in opposition to a plan by the college administration to demolish Classic Hall. Those in attendance will attest that if Fred

had not spoken up the plan would have been formalized. Instead, once Fred spoke his opposition, other members of the board were able to voice their opposition and Classic Hall was saved. Once he decided his time on the Board of Trustees was to conclude, he was given Trustee Emeritus status. He was also given the Presidential Medal by President Dr. Roger Drake. The Medal Ceremony was one of his final public appearances and he was able to be present for and hear people celebrate him and tell some of his immense life story. In a way, it was like he was able to attend his own “celebration of life”, something that most people don’t get to do.

Fred and Barbara gave a plot of land situated next to campus to the College, where the current Alexander Practice field lies, and will be home to major planned facility upgrades, including a new Soccer stadium.

Fred loved the outdoors, and spent many days quail hunting with his beloved bird dogs Dixie and Peanuts and his great friend and hunting partner Joe Davis. He was also an avid fisherman and enjoyed building ponds, stocking the fish and then catching the fish. He was locally renowned for cooking fish and some of his best times were entertaining friends and family while frying fish.

Fred served on the county school board, was a member emeritus of the Fayette Round Table Club, and a member of Linn Memorial United Methodist Church.

Fred was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Katharine, his beloved daughter Laura Beth Alexander, a great-granddaughter Kayleigh Hilderbrand and his brother Brad.  He is survived by his wife, Barbara of the home, daughters Leslie (Frank) Foiles of Overland Park, KS, Lynne Alexander, Leigh (Tom) Hilderbrand, and son Rick (Shelby) Alexander, all of Fayette. His grandchildren were the light of his life and he is survived by Alex (Kaylynn) Hilderbrand, Vince (Baylee) Hilderbrand, Max (Pacha) Hilderbrand, Hank (Samantha) Hilderbrand, Virginia Claire Alexander, Charles Alexander, all of Fayette and Luke (Rachel) Foiles and Jenna Foiles of Overland Park KS, and 11 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Neil Pulliam, sister-in-law Linda Alexander and nephews James Alexander and Tucker Pulliam.

The Family extends warmest gratitude to the many friends who came to visit while he was home bound. Although he wasn’t able to get around, he was still sharp and enjoyed every one of the visits. They want to thank Hometown Homecare for their assistance and care during his time on hospice.  They also want to recognize and thank Fred's grandsons for the care they gave him, which allowed him to remain at home for the remainder of his time on earth.

A celebration of life and a private family service will be conducted at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Fayette Senior Center, Central Methodist University Eagle Pride Campaign, Linn Memorial United Methodist Church or to another charitable organization of your choice.

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