The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame received some notable recognition on Wednesday, Sept. 1 as Gov. Mike Parson stopped here as part of the Bicentennial Tour.
The state of Missouri’s 200th anniversary was in early August, and the governor has been touring the state to bring attention to its history.
“It’s wonderful for Springfield to have this. I remember when it opened and when this all started being a vision,” Parson said during his visit, referring to founder John Q. Hammons wanting to build a sports hall of fame for Missouri in the early 1990s. “I think of all the people who have been here for the banquents and for the people who have been recognized, and how much it means to the people of Missouri.”
The Hall of Fame opened in 1994 and has inducted more than 700 individuals and teams. It was previously located at the Fairgrounds in Sedalia and in Columbia.
CEO & Executive Director Jerald Andrews welcomed Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson to the Hall of Fame, and shared great memories of their childhoods in Bolivar. Teresa’s family also owned a farm, as did the Andrews family. Parson operated a service station.
Andrews commended Parson on being a public servant, too.