Hall of Fame
A native Missourian, Hammons grew up during the Great Depression near Joplin. He earned his degree from SMS and began his professional career as a junior high school teacher in Cassville.
Following his service in the U.S. military, Hammons recognized that G.I.s returning from World War II would need quality housing in which to raise their families. He began building the first suburban housing in Springfield in the late 1940s and established a number of real estate ventures, including housing tracts, apartment complexes and shopping centers.
Hammons entered the hotel industry in 1958 and joined with Roy E. Winegardner, to purchase the first 10 Holiday Inn franchises from founder Kemmons Wilson. Winegardner & Hammons Incorporated (WHI) of Cincinnati, OH, a hotel development company, was formed in 1961. By the late 1960s, WHI had constructed nearly three dozen Holiday Inn hotels. Hammons formed John Q. Hammons Hotels in 1969.
John Q. Hammons Hotels Inc. is traded on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol “JQH” and operates properties nationwide under the Embassy signature Plaza brand. \
Hammons and his wife, Juanita, funded the Hammons Hear Institute and Hammons Life Line helicopter for St. John’s Regional Health Center; the Hammons Student Center, Hammons Fountains and Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts at Southwest Missouri State; and the Hammons School of Architecture at Drury.
The Lifetime Achievement Award category has been added to the Missouri Valley Conference’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony to honor, when appropriate, former players, coaches, administrators or alumni who competed, worked or attended a current conference school.