PIKE COUNTY, Mo. — Nice guys don’t finish last, but they do get razzed.

Champ Clark Honey Shuck Restoration Inc. is skewering retired Pike County banker Ansel Niemeyer as part of its third annual dinner roast on Saturday, Oct. 28.

The event takes place at the Keely Center banquet facility, 3523 Georgia at the west edge of Louisiana. A social hour is at 6 p.m. with dinner at 7.

Tickets must be purchased in advance, and are available at the recorder of deeds office at the Pike County Courthouse in Bowling Green. The cost is $30 per person. Proceeds will be used for Clark house projects.

Honey Shuck board member and emcee Pat Flynn said choosing Niemeyer was not difficult.

“If someone said ‘Pick the nicest guy out of the room to roast,’ it would be Ansel Niemeyer,” Flynn said. “He’s one of the kindest guys. He’s willing to help anyone.”

Despite the glowing appraisal, Niemeyer says he was “a hard egg to crack” when asked to participate. He had in the past “thought it was entertaining and funny when it was someone else” who got raked over the coals.

It was the cause – the importance of keeping alive Clark’s substantial influence on America and his home’s valuable contribution to the region – that finally convinced him.

“I realized that I can laugh at myself,” he said. “And also, I always had a hard time saying ‘no’ to making our community a better place to live.”

The Pike County native’s story is one of hard work and dedication. The youngest of seven children, Niemeyer attended Bowling Green schools and graduated in 1966 with a business marketing degree from the University of Missouri.

He served in the Missouri National Guard and joined what was then Farmers Bank in Bowling Green in 1967. The name would change three times during Niemeyer’s 35 years there. It is now US Bank. His highest position was senior vice president, marketing officer and secretary of the board.

Niemeyer consulted with another nice person – last year’s roastee, Charlene McCune. Her advice for when the zingers fly is “Just smile”

“She has been one of my most favorite community persons in Bowling Green and I looked up to her even in grade school,” Niemeyer said. “She is a very special lady – a real hero in my eyes.”

Flynn has put hours into preparations, including several interviews with Niemeyer.

“You do it honorably,” Flynn said of the roast. “If we can’t laugh at ourselves, then it’s kind of a lonely place. It becomes easier when we have friends and colleagues join in. Truly loving someone comes from a happy place.”

Flynn said Niemeyer is devout, patriotic, compassionate and dedicated. He loves gardening, hiking and camping, so the outdoors will be a major theme during the roast.

An opening skit promises lots of laughs and audience participation. Niemeyer got to pick the six people who will good-naturedly lambaste him later in the evening. They are Teri Meyer Weise, Shelba Northcutt, Ryan Bibb, Marsha McGraw, Martin Anders and Susie Oberdahlhoff. Niemeyer has a “bring-it-on” mentality.

“Well, I can be thin-skinned, but I can be tough also when I have to be,” he said, adding that he may have “ways about me that can be laughable and different, but that’s who I am.”

So, does Niemeyer have any funny tales about the people who will roast him? Sure, but there’s that darn cordiality thing.

“I wouldn’t share without their permission,” he said. “Maybe they will be roasted sometime and then I will share.”

Of course, the format allows Niemeyer the last word. Will he verbally torch them or kill ‘em with kindness?

“I am a person that would like to have everything I am going to say pre-written, but in this case how do you do that when you don’t know what the roasters are going to say?’ he asked. “So, I will have to let go of my insecurity and what I will say will have to be off-the-cuff. That could be dangerous. Just kidding. I’ll try to refrain and sort of be nice to my roasters. They all are a big part of my life, and I have the highest respect for them.”

Flynn warned there could be a few surprises.

“While many know Ansel, they may not know all the facets,” he said. “Like a good diamond, there are many facets about Ansel.”

Niemeyer said he is just “thankful for all the hard work that has gone into the planning,” and predicts it “will be a fun night and an event that will be great to preserve the memory of Champ Clark.”