Max Coble: Sedalia's helping hand

After being diagnosed with cancer more than a year ago, Max Coble has been forced to slow down, but the volunteer work he has done in Sedalia still has an impact on people.

Donnie Ditzfeld, of Sedalia, nominated Coble for the Freedom Torch Award for Community Service because of Coble’s helping nature.

Ditzfeld was first acquainted with Coble after opening the Ditzfeld Center for Recovering Alcoholics. Ditzfeld said Coble went out of his way to help bring people to the center and spread the word that there is help available.

“I thought, ‘Who is this helping guy?’ ” Ditzfeld said.

Coble has spread his help throughout the community by serving on the Angel Tree Ministries children’s Christmas project, serving on the Open Door board, the Sedalia Senior Center Services board, Pettis County Partnerships and the Martin Luther King Celebration committees.

Coble is a member of the Pachyderm Club and the Kiwanis club. He has served as past treasurer for both organizations.

“He’s always been active in Sedalia,” Ditzfeld said.

One of Coble’s favorite things to do is help serve food with Meals on Wheels. Coble’s wife, Rozanne, said Max enjoys doing things behind the scenes.

“He doesn’t like the limelight,” she said.

Coble also has been heavily involved with the Sacred Heart Prison Ministry and the Pettis County Jail Visitor program.

“I was just led to it,” Coble said. “It seemed like the natural thing to do.”

Rozanne Coble said her husband has always been interested in the jail and helping released prisoners find work and stay on the right track.

“Max just exhibits the character you look for in people,” Ditzfeld said.

He said Coble is a person who will do anything he can to help you, and that Coble is compassionate and intensely interested in how he can help others.

“What a great guy,” Ditzfeld said.

In 2008, Coble was the recipient of the Pachyderm Club’s John C. Ryan Award for his involvement with the club’s activities.

Coble attended Windsor High School and graduated from Central Missouri State University in 1960 with a degree in business. 

In 1975, Coble bought the Credit Bureau in Sedalia and has been the owner since. Coble has five children and 13 grandchildren. In his spare time, he enjoys watching them participate in sporting events or other activities.

Rozanne said she and her husband were surprised when they found out about his nomination.

“It’s so humbling to have somebody think you would deserve something like this,” Rozanne said. “He was very honored.”