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Missouri Sports Hall of Fame leader resigns, interim named amid financial uncertainty

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Missouri Sports Hall of Fame leader resigns, interim named amid financial uncertainty

Byron Shive, CEO and executive director of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, has stepped down amid questions about the financial health of the nonprofit foundation.

Shive’s resignation was accepted Nov. 22 by the governing board of the Hall of Fame, according to a Tuesday news release. His final day will be Dec. 31.

The governing board has announced plans to begin distributing funds owed to local charities involved in the 2024 Price Cutter Charity Championship, a PGA golf tournament, as soon as possible, and figure out a budget for the rest of this year and 2025 that will allow its signature events — including an annual Hall of Fame enshrinement event in February — to take place as planned.

Founded in 1994 by Springfield businessman John Q. Hammons, the 32,00-square-foot hall of fame — located just off Highway 60 near the entrance of the Highland Springs Country Club — is home to more than 4,000 items of sports memorabilia.

Over the years, the Sports Hall of Fame has inducted dozens of notable sports figures with ties to the Show-Me State such as Stan Musial, Horton Smith, Jack Buck, Bill Rowe, Lou Brock, Whitey Herzog, George Brett, Charlie Spoonhour, Cheryl Burnett, Len Dawson, Payne Stewart, Jackie Stiles, and Bob Costas.

It is also the longtime host of the Price Cutter Charity Championship. Started in 1990, the annual golf tournament has distributed more than $20.5 million to children’s charities across the Ozarks.

However, earlier this month, the annual Celebration of Sharing event set for Nov. 19 — when charities involved in the 2024 PGA golf tournament were set to pick up checks and pose for photos — was canceled, citing financial challenges.

KSMU, the Ozarks Public Radio, obtained an Oct. 9 memo from Shive to the governing board expressing “significant concerns about the current state of financial affairs for the tournament.” It noted 49 charities were to benefit from the 2024 event and roughly $850,00 had been promised to them, according to the station’s reporting.

It was unclear this week if any of the funds had been dispersed.

With Shive out, The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame is once again looking to Jerald Andrews for leadership,

Andrews, who is Shive’s father-in-law, has agreed to serve as the interim CEO as a part-time, independent contractor. He spent 27 years as the executive director and CEO before Shive took over.

Andrews will oversee the day-to-day operations as well as work with the board to recruit a permanent replacement for Shive.

He is also expected to report directly to the board, at least once a month, as part of a commitment to transparency and accountability.

In 2016, a total of 45 charities split $905,339, one of the highest years on record. The total amount distributed annually often includes funds some charities were required to invest up front in the tournament.

That means at the Celebration of Sharing event each year, the charities get that invested money back plus a part of the net proceeds. Some charities also provide volunteers for the tournament.

In 2017, Andrews told the News-Leader that charities make an initial investment or bring in a sponsor to pay to be a part of the tournament. The money put in by the charities adds to the gross income of the tournament. Andrews said all charities get their money back, plus interest.

The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame at 3861 E. Stan Musial Dr. was closed for renovations in 2024.

According to a Tuesday news release, the board approved a strategic plan for continuing to operate the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame with Andrews in the interim role. It included three steps:

  • Begin to make distributions to the charities associated with the 2024 PCCC as quickly as possible;
  • Stabilize current operations and create a workable budget for the rest of 2024;
  • Develop a schedule of events and a budget for 2025 that include both an annual enshrinement ceremony in February and the PCCC tournament in summer 2025.

More: Price Cutter extends tournament sponsorship; Daredevils release signature whisky

A month ago, Price Cutter Supermarkets agreed to a five-year deal to continue as title sponsor of the annual Price Cutter Charity Championship, a Korn Ferry Tour event, with Hiland Dairy Foods moving into a new role as the presenting sponsor.

The new contract will provide long-term support and continuity for the annual fundraising event. Price Cutter Supermarkets has been on board for 24 years.

The 36th annual Price Cutter Charity Championship is scheduled July 17-20, 2025, at Highland Springs Country Club.

According to ProPublica’s nonprofit explorer, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame reported $1.69 million in revenue for 2022, the most recent year available.

The Form 990, which nonprofits are required for file as part of their federal tax-exempt status, showed $1.5 million in expenses, a net income of $120,115, and net assets worth slightly more than $2 million for 2022.

At the time, Andrews was still executive director and his total compensation was listed as $413,305. Shive, who was president at the time, was paid a total of $189,218 that year.

The Hall of Fame website does not list the names of its current governing board members. However, the Form 990 listed the board members in 2022: Dan Nelson, chair; Bryan Magers, vice chair; Craig Curry, treasurer; Russell Hinds, secretary; governing board members were Rich Beaman, Gary Goetz, Brian Jared, Tara Jenkins, Christian Lewis, Rob Marsh, David McQueary, Rick Meewes, Laura Smith, Alan Spencer, Mike Spruill, Joel Thomas, Steve Williams, Darrel Wilson, and Bryan Wyrsch.

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