Inductees

He had spent the summer before his sophomore year in college interning for the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, not simply or eagerly doing grunt work but buying into the entire process. That meant helping north of 40 charities, too.

Then, in the spring of 2014, with a bachelor’s degree almost in hand from the University of Missouri, Taylor Frederich needed one more internship in order to graduate.

At the time, the plan was to work for the Springfield Cardinals, the Double-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, but he turned his attention back to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

“I recall having the conversation with Scott Bailes (MSHOF 2013) and him asking me if I thought that the MSHOF is somewhere I could see myself being long-term,” Frederich said.

That’s exactly how it played out. Frederich spent the next 11 years working for the Hall of Fame and its major tournament, the PGA Korn Ferry Tour’s Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Hiland Dairy Foods. And his tireless work for both is why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame proudly honored him with the 2025 Summit Award.

The award is presented for longtime service to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and PCCC. Overall, the 2009 Branson High School and Mizzou graduate has been a leader and important voice in the direction of the success of each.

Additionally, he is a perfect example of making the most of an opportunity and working hard to climb the ladder.  Frederich started as an Administrative Marketing and Operations Assistant and worked the front desk before rising through the ranks. At one point, he handled Sponsorship Development and Sales and, since April 2022, has been the Hall of Fame’s Director of Operations.

Frederich wears many hats for both organizations, which are both 501(c)(3) not-for-profits and do not apply for state or federal grants. As Director of Operations for the PCCC, he has led the set-up every July at Highland Springs Country Club, overseeing everything from skyboxes to the Ozarks Club food & beverage tent to bleachers and more.

He also coordinates all celebrities and pros for golf classics and pro-ams, and works with Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling and Wil Fischer Distributing on the Hall of Fame and tournament’s beverage needs.

However, that’s only the Cliff’s Notes version.

With former CEO & Executive Director Jerald Andrews (MSHOF Legend 2022) and former Executive Vice President Marty Willadsen (MSHOF Summit Award 2022) as major influences, Frederich made sure to pick their brains in depth, so to speak, at almost every turn.

“I was nosey! I wanted to know every layer of the business,” Frederich said. “I watched and listened to how my predecessors carried themselves and, simply put, tried to mimic what they were doing.”

Most of all, “I was taught early here that saying, ‘That’s not my job,” is not acceptable,” Frederich said.

What enhanced his growth was moving into a middle office between Andrews and Willadsen in 2021. There, he heard all of their conversations, as well as with those of sponsors and vendors.

“(Jerald) was hard on me and challenged me early on in my career here,” Frederich said. “Those years molded me into who I am today.”

Willadsen, “was and is the perfect mixture of seriousness and silliness. That balance is something that I try to mirror.”

Frederich’s other mentor was Opa, his grandpa who passed away in March 2025.

“He was never afraid to take a risk,” Frederich said.

Frederich’s influence on the Hall of Fame includes researching for honorees for the selection committee. He also shepherded inductees through their induction, and communicated with the Kansas City Chiefs’ Carl Peterson, Dick Vermeil, Clark Hunt, broadcasters Kevin Harlan and Bob Costas and the Cardinals’ Ozzie Smith and Adam Wainwright.

All along the way, he had the support of his wife, Whitney, and they are parents to Ryleigh and Talan. He also long had support from his parents, Jim and Melinda, and sister Brenna and brother-in-law Tory, and brother Jason.

“My time here is something that I will cherish my entire life. I have made countless relationships/friendships here and for those I am forever grateful,” Frederich said. “I am proud of the work we accomplished over the last 11 years. I was a part of once-in-a-lifetime induction ceremonies for individuals, teams and programs. I was a part of a team that raised thousands upon thousands of dollars for local charity. The team at the MSHOF/PCCC does good work for good causes.”

He made it even better.