Inductees

When Bryan Magers shares favorite memories of the way sports played a positive role in his life, it’s easy to imagine watching it all on one of those old 8mm film reels with the color faded, the light on the slides popping every so often. It’s Americana.

“My dad refereed most of the games in the Blue & Gold Tournament history. My brother is a year younger than I am, so we played sports together growing up, and my dad coached by brother’s Little League baseball team for five years,” Magers said. “I played on a team with the same guys for five years. We won all five years in the playoffs.”

Years later, it was only natural for the housing developer to give back to sports, and it’s why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame is proud to bestow its 2019 President’s Award on Magers.

The award recognizes an individual who champions sports across the state and especially the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

As the founder of Springfield-based Bryan Properties, Magers made certain that his company is a corporate sponsor of the Hall of Fame and a lead sponsor of the PGA Web.com Tour’s Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper.

“His support has been heartfelt and truly meaningful,” said Jerald Andrews, President & Executive Director of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and the Executive Director of the PCCC.

Founded by John Q. Hammons, the Hall of Fame is a 501c-3 not-for-profit and relies exclusively on the generosity of folks’ financial support, not government assistance. Such support has aided the Hall of Fame’s efforts to continue to honor deserving individuals across the state. He has been a Hall of Fame Board of Trustees member the past three years.

“I’m proud of Springfield,” said Magers, who attended Springfield’s Central High School for two years and graduated from Glendale High School. “I’m so grateful John Q. Hammons chose Springfield to be the home of the Hall. It has put Springfield on the map.”

As Hammons opened the Hall of Fame and launched what became the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper, Magers couldn’t help but smile proudly.

“I attended almost all of the events, ribbon cuttings and at least two full days of the golf tournament and the parties that followed,” Magers said. “It made me proud to be from Springfield.”

His never-ending support of the fundraising-focused Price Cutter tournament has gone a long way toward boosting the efforts – and morale – of Ozarks children’s charities, which have been gifted more than $15.6 million since 1990. For instance, Magers sponsors golf teams in the PCCC’s numerous golf experiences, including pro-ams, and agreed several years ago to headline a golf event. It’s now a popular one, called the Bryan Properties Nighttime Classic.

Beyond the obvious support, Magers always steps up whenever the tournament asks for additional help. In 2017, Magers received the Web.com Tour’s Small Business Award in the PCCC.

“I’ve been inspired by Sally Hargis, and a lot of what Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company does with its charitable efforts,” Magers said. Hargis is the Vice President & Chairman of Ozarks Coke. “I think Sally spends money wisely through her company and other committees I’ve been on with her over the years. She’s got a real handle on where money should go to help others. She’s been the lead for me.”

Magers put himself in position to help so many financially. He began selling real estate in 1973 after serving in the Army and, in 1980, ventured into building. He founded Bryan Properties in 1985.

Now, his company is among the most successful in the state, with apartment communities in Springfield, Nixa and Lebanon.

Its student-housing projects include Bear Village, with more than 650 residents next door to Missouri State University. It also is building Missouri State’s freshman dorm, scheduled to open in the fall of 2020.

Additionally, 10 percent of Drury University students live in housing built by Bryan Properties, and Magers is in negotiations with two universities to create public-private partnerships to help with housing needs.

“I followed the advice of my dad and brother – buy adjoining properties and build on them. Create something new,” Magers said.

Overall, it’s a labor of love, with an even bigger heart for the Hall of Fame and Price Cutter tournament.

“This is a great and humbling honor, especially from an organization headed by Jerald Andrews,” Magers said. “I can’t say enough good things about Jerald and the Hall.”