Inductees

In a city known for its volunteerism and philanthropy, Sharyn Wagoner may hold its unofficial title of Super Volunteer.

Years ago, as a stay-at-home mom, she found a calling with several local Springfield charities. Then, in 1994, at the urging of a friend, she helped with pro-am registration, pro-am packets and greenside scoring for the PGA Korn Ferry Tour’s Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper.

Thus began a 25-year run with the PCCC – including the past 16 as Volunteer Chair followed by Tournament Chair – that ended in 2019 for Wagoner, who is retiring in January. Because of her devotion, tireless work and inspiration, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame proudly honored her with its inaugural Summit Award during the Enshrinement presented by Killian Construction.

After all, she has led the 1,000-person volunteer army and handled numerous other roles for the PCCC, which benefits Ozarks children’s charities and has raised more than $16.5 million in its 30-year history.

“The tournament will always hold a special place in my heart. I have met so many people and made so many friends over the years,” Sharyn said. “I admire the charities for their dedication to their missions, the sponsors for their faith in us and what we do, and the volunteers for their commitment to the event. We all work together, along with the staff of the Hall of Fame, to make this event the success that it is. Thank you to all of you who have supported me through all these years! Keep up the good work!”

As Tournament Director Jerald Andrews put it during the PCCC’s Celebration of Sharing presented by The McQueary Family, “You cannot replace a Sharyn Wagoner. In fact, you need three Sharyn Wagoners.”

Additionally, Sharyn has worked with the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, a not-for-profit organization, for 16 years in the role of Special Events. She is the first point of contact with honorees, handles celebrity golf player recruitment, coordinates with golf courses on Celebrity Golf Classic teams and is the liaison with celebrities for events.

All of which doesn’t surprise her close friends.

A 1975 graduate of Mountain View-Liberty High School and 1979 graduate of Missouri State University, Sharyn has volunteered for numerous Springfield-area organizations over the years: ArtsFest (30 years), the Springfield Arts Museum, Dickerson Park Zoo (as a docent for educational programs), PTA, The Kitchen, Inc. (for 20 years in the front office), Bass Pro Shops Fitness Festival and more. She also was awarded the Gift of Time by the City of Springfield in 2008.

For Sharyn, it all began as a way to enhance the community in a small way while she was a stay-at-home mom for Ali and Erin, with husband Craig becoming a Springfield developer.

“Thank you for giving me the freedom to find myself through this event,” Sharyn told Craig at the recent Celebration of Sharing. “It’s not that I didn’t like being just Craig’s wife or Ali and Erin’s mom, but the PCCC has given me an identity of my own. And thank you for ‘buying in’ with your sponsorships, auction purchases, and volunteerism.”

“I asked her to make a three-year commitment to lead the volunteers. That was 16 years ago!” Andrews said. “She has played an integral role during that time and has been involved in every aspect of the tournament’s growth. Her work has meant thousands of dollars in impacting thousands of young lives.”

Sharyn has also been named the 2005 Judy Weekley Volunteer of the Year and the tour’s 2010 Volunteer of the Year.

“To me PCCC stands for more than just a golf tournament – more than just the Price Cutter Charity Championship. It stands for the Passion, Courage and Commitment of all of our charities, sponsors and volunteers,” Wagoner said. “It’s the passion that each of our charities show towards fulfilling their missions. It’s the courage it takes to keep trying new things and striving to be better each year and the courage it takes for our sponsors to believe in us and what we do enough to support us year in and year out. It’s the commitment that all of us have made to the success of our individual businesses and charities and to this one event that brings us all together.

“And our successes carry on further than just in the Ozarks. We are a part of the Korn Ferry Tour and a part of the PGA Tour. We all help to make a difference.”