Inductees

The scouting report paints the picture of an ideal leader: He brought his fastball every day, saw the smallest of tasks to the finish even if it meant dirtying up his uniform, and kept the clubhouse loose.

A big-leaguer? In a business sense, certainly. That was Marty Willadsen, who in 2004 was looking to write the next chapter in life, found it at the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and never looked back.

“I thought it would be the perfect fit. It was the great unknown,” Willadsen said. “They explained what I would be doing – selling sponsorships. But it was, for me, getting back into sports.”

A St. Louis Cardinals fan and former high school baseball coach, Willadsen carved out a difference-making, 18-year career at the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, which is proud to honor him with its 2022 Summit Award as he heads into retirement.

The award is bestowed on those who fuel and inspire the Hall of Fame’s success along with that of the PGA Korn Ferry Tour’s Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper.

In essence, Willadsen rose from the bottom of the totem pole to Executive Vice President, handling its operations, boosting fundraising efforts for the PCCC’s roughly 50 local children’s charities and forging friendships with some of the biggest names in Show-Me State sports history, as well as sponsors and regular Joes.

Mostly, his laser focus on small details has ensured that every facet of an event – whether it’s the Hall of Fame or the PCCC – is carried out in order to put both organizations in position for success.

“I started at the bottom and worked hard,” Willadsen said. “It’s one of those things where you contribute until you get noticed and then move up and keep contributing.”

A 1975 graduate of Lebanon High School and a 1979 graduate of Missouri Valley College, Willadsen has enjoyed quite the journey.

He was a high school coach at Lebanon and then Pleasant Hope before working 10 years in the steel industry.

Then, in 2004, the Hall of Fame came calling, in need of an Associate Director of Sponsor Development. In September 2006, he was promoted to Director of Operations. Two years later, he was named Vice President/Operations and Administration. In that capacity, he oversaw the operations, administration and accounting for the Hall of Fame.

In 2015, he became Executive Vice President, the No. 2 role behind CEO & Executive Director Jerald Andrews.

“Jerald gave me the freedom to be me. That was very important,” Willadsen said. “If I had to look over my shoulder every time and ask Jerald about an idea, I wouldn’t have been very successful. He trusted me to make the best decisions for the Hall of Fame.”

Attention to detail defined Willadsen, whose to-do lists for the staff prevented any event from falling short of expectations.

Along the way, his passion for hunting and fishing boosted the Hall of Fame’s growth. You see, two of his ideas – the Hall of Fame’s Sporting Clays Classic and Bass Fishing Classic – have generated numerous sponsorships.

Additionally, he has led the set-up of the PCCC at Highland Springs Country Club. That’s a monumental task requiring months of advance planning and then three laborious weeks of work in the relentless summer heat leading up to the pros hitting town.

“I’m most proud of all of the many ways we’ve helped the PCCC,” Willadsen said. “You give to great causes. You get to see people’s lives improve because of your work.”

Beyond that, Willadsen became the glue guy of the Hall of Fame staff. He “held court” in meetings and during early morning event set-ups, keeping the atmosphere loose.

His humor also strengthened the Hall of Fame’s relationships with sponsors and celebrities.

One day, he would rib sponsors and their friends as he manned a par 3, Double Down hole, in which golfers bet that their tee shot could land on the green – and usually lost. The next day, he would be cutting up with baseball greats such as Whitey Herzog, Ozzie Smith, Frank White, Tom Henke and the late Bill Virdon and his wife, Shirley.

Willadsen thanks many mentors such as Board of Trustees members who helped his success. Additionally, the support of his wife, Lori, has meant everything. They are parents to Andy and his wife, Cathryn, and grandparents to Elijah, Gideon and Caleb.

“Without Lori and the whole family, this wouldn’t have happened,” Willadsen said. “The support of my family has been paramount in everything I’ve done.”