Johnny Morris honored alongside Economic Impact winners

Springfield Business Journal last night honored Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris with the annual Lifetime Achievement in Business award along winners of the 2015 Economic Impact Awards.

Speaking to a crowd of around 240 at Ramada Plaza Hotel & Oasis Convention Center, Morris said family, employees and the region have been integral to his success.

“It really is all about them,” Morris said. “There’s good times and there’s happy times and there’s times that are rough, and it makes us all stronger.”

In a video preceding Morris’ speech, business leaders spoke about Bass Pro becomes Missouri’s largest tourist destination.

“Frankly, I don’t know he had a clue he was going to be a tourism attraction when he first threw his line in to reel in some fishermen,” said Tracy Kimberlin, president and CEO of the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau. “He was probably surprised when he reeled it in he brought some tourists with him.”

With over 70 stores today, Morris’ work has helped put the Springfield area on the map in a number of ways. Former Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce President Jim Anderson said at least one other city has tried to lure Morris to move Bass Pro’s headquarters.

“It was Pueblo, Colo., who wanted Bass Pro Shops there,” Anderson said in the video. “They literally had a blank check sent to Johnny, pushed across the table and said, ‘Fill in the amount. Whatever it takes, we want you in Pueblo.’ But Johnny said, ‘No, Springfield, Mo, is my home.’”

Awards - given to celebrate the contributions of area companies - were presented in four categories based on years in business: one to five years, six to 15 years, 16 to 29 years and 30 plus years. In all, 14 businesses and three individuals were recognized.

In the one to five years category, Phoenix Home Care Inc. took home top honors. Finalists were Jimm’s Steakhouse & Pub and Southern Bank.

Abacus CPAs LLC won the six to 15 years category over finalists Branson Bank and H Design Group LLC.

The 16 to 29 years award went to 88.3 The Wind. Finalists were JMark Business Solutions Inc. and Layer 3 Technology.

Citizens Memorial Healthcare won the top award in the 30 plus category, defeating finalists CoxHealth and Ollis & Co.

Other awards given:

    •        Ozarks Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Philanthropic Business of the Year;
    •        The eFactory, Business Advocate of the Year;
    •        Buck Van Hooser, Community Involvement Champion; and
    •        Brad Erwin, Entrepreneur of the Year.

Economic Impact winners were chosen by an independent panel of judges.