The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame joins with family, friends and the Ozarks community at large in mourning the passing of Bobby Allison, who passed away on Thursday.
Allison was a major supporter financially across numerous causes in southwest Missouri. The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame proudly inducted him as a Sports Philanthropist and Humanitarian with the Class of 2021.
A Parkview High School graduate, Allison never forgot where he came from. You see, he was raised by a single mother, whom he gives all the credit, working several jobs to make sure he had what everyone else had.
He went on to own Custom Protein, formerly Southwest Byproducts, for 46 years.
A few years ago, the PGA Korn Ferry Tour’s Price Cutter Championship presented by Dr Pepper sought a sponsor for a youth golf tournament. From 2015 to 2021, the schedule included the Betty & Bobby Allison’s Junior Pro-Am, with the pros teaching middle school and high school golfers great tips while competing in a scramble. That event was in addition to the Betty Allison’s Women’s Pro-Am. Both golf experiences helped the PCCC gift nearly $1 million annually to almost 50 Ozarks children’s charities.
Meanwhile, Allison’s significant gifts in 2013 to Missouri State University led to improvements of athletics facilities and student recreation. Now MSU’s soccer, women’s track and field as well as field hockey and beach volleyball programs have first-class facilities – all named for his mother and for him.
He also contributed to construction of MSU’s Bill R. Foster and Family Recreation Center and recently provided the lead gift toward MSU’s Greenwood Laboratory School’s Betty & Bobby Allison Event Center.
The Springfield-Greene County Park Board has benefitted from his generosity. For one, he worked with numerous donor groups on the Betty & Bobby Allison Miracle League Ballfield at Dan Kinney Park, but there are many others:
- Completely renovated the 9-hole, Par-3 Oscar Blom golf course, now known as the Betty Allison Junior Golf Course at Oscar Blom. The Heart of the Ozarks Junior Golf Foundation also ensures kids play for free Sunday-Thursday.
- Developed and funded a four-hole junior course at Rivercut Golf Course.
- Has worked with the Springfield Cardinals to develop the Betty & Bobby Allison Community Suite at Hammons Field for use by youth and non-profit organizations.
Recently, Allison stepped forward to help create soccer fields for Sporting Springfield’s youth club.
Outside of sports, Help Give Hope, Harmony House, Springfield Dream Center, Lost and Found and a neonatal care unit at Mercy Hospital have helped thousands.
Harmony House is the only domestic violence center in Greene County, and Allison’s lead gift sparked the $6 million shelter toward its 2017 opening.
