Inductees

Talk about striving for perfection.

In July 2025, the Thompson boys of Thompson Sales Company – a car dealership with roots in Springfield dating to 1919 – arrived en masse ahead of the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Hiland Dairy Foods.

The tournament, managed by the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and a stop on the PGA’s Korn Ferry Tour, would draw in thousands to Highland Springs Country Club. And Thompson Sales was back in as the official car sponsor for the first time in about 20 years.

Think they just dropped off their rides? Think again. About eight guys from the dealership turned out and meticulously mapped out where to display the Cadillac, GMC and Buick vehicles.

“We felt there was great momentum around the tournament in 2025, and a big part of that was the leadership in place,” Miles and Lynn Thompson said. “With Rob Marsh in his first year (as President & CEO) at the Hall of Fame, it was clear he had a strong vision for getting the organization back to its original glory. His excitement and passion were contagious, and that gave us confidence that it was the right time to step up and throw our support behind it like we had in the past.”

Their involvement cannot be understated, and it’s why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame proudly honored Thompson Sales Company with the John Q. Hammons Founder’s Award in 2026.

The award is bestowed on companies who throw tremendous support behind the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame’s efforts – especially its charitable fundraising initiative, now called the Price Cutter Cares presented by Hiland Dairy Foods.

Their involvement was significant, considering both organizations are 501(c)(3) not-for-profits and have never sought out state or federal funding. And both experienced challenging fiscal times in 2024.

And now look. Thanks in part to Thompson Sales, both organizations are on stable footing.

Thompson Sales had been a longtime sponsor of the Hall of Fame and the Price Cutter tournament and then stepped forward again in 2025. It became the official car dealership of the tournament, with the tournament’s truck giveaway being a GMC Canyon from Thompson Sales.

The dealership also sponsored several pro-am teams and participated in numerous other events that enabled the tournament ultimately to gift north of $525,000 to 32 Ozarks children’s charities.

It also has become a corporate sponsor of the Hall of Fame, participating in induction ceremonies and golf events.

In essence, the Hall of Fame found yet another partner that wanted to be seen at an elite level. Thus, the Thompson display vehicles at the tournament.

“That level of care comes naturally to us,” Alex Thompson said. “At Thompson Sales, we take a lot of pride in the quality of vehicles we sell, and that starts with paying attention to every detail. When we committed to supporting this tournament, we wanted our display to reflect those same standards and the pride we take in our work every day.”

Overall, Thompson Sales was founded by George Thompson Sr., and then ran in good hands over the years by George III, Lynn, Miles, Tyler, Troy, Alex, Drew Givens and Derek Lowrance. They oversee a dealership that now counts 121 full-time employees with over 1,146 combined years of service.

And what a history it’s been.

In 1919, George M. Thompson, Sr. was discharged as a Captain in the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps, and he returned to Springfield with his bride, Wilma, to enter into business with his father, George W. Thompson.

Thompson Sales Company opened its doors for the first time on July 6, 1919 and sold used tires and wagons.

Over the years, they obtained a franchise for Racine Tires and featured the Country Road tire – guaranteed for 6,000 miles – and so the Thompsons selected 6,000 as their telephone number.

Thompson Sales also merged with Ajax Tire Co, and then with McClaren Rubber Co. and obtained the retail franchise for Cadillac before taking on a Pontiac dealership. When Dayton Rubber bought McClaren in 1936, the name changed to Thompson Sales Company. In the 1970s, the focus concentrated on selling and servicing General Motors cars.

Over the years, they found new locations in town and ultimately are now in south Springfield on a 14-acre site that includes quick lube, body shop, service center, parts department and room to display more than 900 new and pre-owned vehicles.

In 1994, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame opened in Springfield, and Thompson Sales jumped on board to assist in its growth.

“We first supported the Hall of Fame in 1994, around the inaugural Enshrinement and just before the building opened by Highland Springs,” Miles and Lynn said. “In those early years, our support was fairly simple but meaningful. We made monetary donations to help the Hall of Fame get established, and we also donated memorabilia to help build the collection. It was important to us to support the mission in any way we could as the Hall of Fame was getting off the ground.”

Eventually, they expanded their charitable efforts with the Price Cutter tournament.

“Our manufacturer partners have been very supportive over the years. In the early days of the golf tournament – roughly through the first 15 years – Cadillac stepped up by providing vehicles for use by staff and players at the event, which added a lot of visibility and excitement to the tournament,” Miles and Lynn said. “We were also proud sponsors of the Cadillac Dealers of the Ozarks Pro-Am. That kind of support helped elevate the event and showed a shared commitment to making the tournament successful.”

Back then in the 1990s, the tournament had only a few charities. Now it’s north of 30, and so the support of Thompson Sales has even more reach.

“It was incredibly meaningful. Knowing that the Price Cutter tournament helped support 30-plus charities really puts the impact into perspective,” Miles and Lynn said. “Being part of something that reaches that many organizations, and in turn, so many people in our community was humbling. It reinforces how powerful it can be when businesses, volunteers, and supporters all come together around a common goal.”

Thompson Sales has long helped local charities, including Rescue One and Habitat for Humanity.

That wasn’t lost on the younger generation that now handles a bulk of the day-to-day operations at the dealership.

“We grew up watching previous generations of our family support local causes, schools, and organizations,” Alex Thompson said. “Not for recognition, but because it was simply the right thing to do. That example left a lasting impression on us and is something we take a lot of pride in continuing.”

When the Thompson boys threw their energy into the 2025 Price Cutter tournament, it was clear that pride remained. Every detail on the cars – right down to sending someone to wash them every morning and changing out a couple here and there – was impressive. They also enjoyed playing in the pro-ams, and their Champions Pro-Am pro was none other than the eventual winner, Chandler Blanchet.

“The biggest hook for us is impact,” Alex said. “It’s one thing to talk about giving back, but it’s another to see firsthand how those funds make a difference locally. Price Cutter Cares and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame has a strong track record, and knowing the people behind it care deeply about doing things right makes us want to be part of that effort.”