Inductees

He grew up in Springfield playing football, baseball and basketball at Hillcrest High School, and then played baseball an hour west at both Crowder College and Missouri Southern State University.

So when Erick Taylor returned home and became President and CEO of Pyramid Foods in 1992, you could say he was looking to hit a home run in the business world. In town annually was a pro golf tournament on what’s now the Korn Ferry Tour, a launching pad into the PGA TOUR.

“As I was introducing the Price Cutter brand, I was looking for a ‘vehicle,’ that I could associate with community involvement and charitable giving,” Taylor said. “When this opportunity was presented to us, I was excited to partner up with both the PGA and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. All of our missions aligned to make this tournament what it is today.”

Taylor’s leadership certainly played a major role in the success of what’s now the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Hiland Dairy, a tournament that benefits nearly 50 children’s charities annually.

That’s why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame proudly honored Taylor with the President’s Award in May 2025.

The award recognizes individuals who champion the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and sports in general in the Show-Me State.

A 1982 graduate of Springfield’s Hillcrest High School, Taylor has done just that in his 32 years as president of the Springfield-based grocery company, which runs Price Cutter Supermarkets. He has seen to it that Price Cutter Supermarkets is a longtime corporate sponsor of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and a lead sponsor of the Price Cutter tournament.

That’s significant, considering both organizations are 501(c)(3) not-for-profits and have never applied for state or federal grants.

The Hall of Fame opened in 1994, and the PCCC began in 1990, with Price Cutter having been a title or presenting sponsor of the tournament for 26 years now – with millions of dollars raised for children’s charities.

For both organizations, Taylor has ensured that Price Cutter support induction ceremonies and golf events.

In essence, he understands the importance of the way businesses can help make good citizens.

“A good leader and a good citizen are often equated,” Taylor said. “Being a good leader means inspiring and guiding others towards a shared goal while demonstrating integrity, courage and vision. A good citizen, on the other hand, is responsible and actively participates in their community, valuing the well-being of society and contributing to its betterment.”

The community has been near and dear to his heart anyway.

He graduated from Hillcrest, having been a pitcher in the powerhouse baseball program. Those skills led to baseball scholarships at Crowder and Missouri Southern. Along the way, he never forgot the lessons learned.

“It taught me three things: work ethic, teamwork, and the importance of welcoming and enjoying tough competition,” Taylor said.

Fortunately, he also was surrounded by leaders. In fact, his mentors were his father, Richard, and Hillcrest baseball coach Dick Birmingham (MSHOF 2002). Hillcrest’s High School and American Legion baseball programs were inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.

In other words, a winning attitude became the norm during Taylor’s upbringing. Even better, it continued into his professional career, where he counts numerous other mentors.

Perhaps it should be no surprise, then, that Taylor gives of his time in numerous other ways. He has served on the boards for the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, Mercy Foundation, Missouri Grocers Association, Ozarks Empire Grocers Association, and is currently a board member of Associated Wholesale Grocers.

That said, Taylor is quick to point out that his success is through the employees of Price Cutter Supermarkets. The company has expanded over the years into Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma.

“Without them, I would not have the ability to support the community and continue to support charities like we have for the past 30 years,” Taylor said. “I am proud of everything they do every day to be great stewards of all the communities we serve.”

That’s why he insists the President’s Award is theirs, too.

“This brings me back to my message for all of my employees: they are the reason we can give back in the ways we do,” Taylor said. “I am simply the fortunate person who gets to accept this on their behalf. I am incredibly proud of all the good that has resulted from the Price Cutter Charity Championship.”