As a Normandy High School student, Cassandra Brown Ray loved working as a bank teller at then-Northwestern Savings and Loan (now U.S. Bank) near Lucas Hunt and Natural Bridge roads. Most of all, she liked getting to know the customers and helping them with their financial needs, she said.

The Arts and Education Council awarded nine grants to local arts organizations that, according to the council, “demonstrate diversity or seek to expand support of programs, leadership and access and that show promise for creative new directions in arts and cultural programming.”

William Bradley, vice president of community affairs at Anheuser-Busch, grew up playing baseball and had aspirations to play professionally.

Going strong for 102 years now, The Muny is a place that municipal theaters across the country look to as a model of success.