Hall of Fame

At The Missouri Restaurant Association, we value the honoring of others, which is why we have a Hall of Fame. These individuals have put forth foresight that is instrumental in shaping the future of the restaurant industry. We honor these outstanding restaurateurs for their hard work, dedication, and insight that has made an impact on this association and the industry.  ​

1972 - Jessie Alice Cline
1973 - H.A. Pope
1974 - Vincent Bommarito
1975 - Joe Gilbert Sr.
1976 - Florence Hulling
1977 - Joe Adelman
1978 - J.W. Putsch
1978 - Ray Carter
1979 - Ned Eddy Sr.
1980 - Floyd Kennon
1981 - Louis Shelburne
1982 - Paul Robinson
1983 - Max Koerner
1984 - Jack Webb
1985 - Leslie Stephenson
1986 - George Koeh
1987 - Richard Harman
1988 - Herb Leonard
1989 - Kenneth Hill
1990 - C. Marshall Scott
1991 - Dorothy Muck
1992 - Dorris Layman
1992 - Brother Leo Slay
1993 - ​Carl DiCapo
1994 - Dick Walls​

1995 - Maxine Griggs 
1997 - Pete Herschend 
1997 - Jack Herschend
1998 - Norman Sewing
2001 - Ron Barkley
2002 - Bart Saracino Sr.
2003 - George Cascone
2004 - Charlie Gitto
2005 - Manny & Vivian Lopez
2006 - Al Abadessa
2006 - Ken Applegate
2007 - Thom Sehnert
2008 - Jack Fiorella
2009 - John & LeVeda Banken
2010 - Mike & Linda Craig
2011 - Ed Holland
2012 - Bob Kirkwood
2013 - Vita Totta & Greg Hunsucker
2014 - Gary Leonard
2015 - Todd Hulse
2015 - Vic Allred
2016 - Mike Wiggins
​2017 - ​Wayne Schweigert
​2018 - Jimm Swafford
2019 - Buddy Lahl
​2021 - Mark Sulltrop​

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Distinguished Service Award

The Distinguished Service Award recipient is chosen by the MRA’s Board of Directors. First awarded in 1994, the award is presented to recognize an individual or company for extraordinary contributions which have had a major impact on the restaurant and hospitality industry and the Missouri Restaurant Association. Due to the award’s prestigious nature, it is not necessarily presented every year. Only two individuals, Dick Walls and Todd Hulse, are recipients of the Distinguished Service Award and members of the MRA Hall of Fame. 

Past Recipients Include: 
Robert Johnson - Former Missouri State Senator
Dr. Jack Stringer - University of Missouri Hotel and Restaurant Management Program
The Guyol Family - Ronnoco Coffee Company
Herman Cain - Former President of the National Restaurant Association, Godfather’s Pizza
Jack Ford - Ford Hotel Supply
Marty Haake - Haake Insurance Companies 
Jack Accurso - American Foodservice
Anheuser Busch, Inc.
Tom Deer - A.J. Goss Distributor 
Dr. Cynthia Arendt - Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 
Don & Orville Middendorf - PFS Middendorf 
Jerry Vincent - Johnson County Community College
Dick Walls - Walls Restaurant Group
Mike Shannon, Jr. - Anheuser-Busch
Bob Hines - Osage Marketing 
Jerry Shackette - College of the Ozarks; Hard Work U
Mike Burris - Aeris
Jake Jolley - Ford Restaurant Supply
Todd Hulse
Maximum Media
Greg Hunsucker - V's Italiano Ristorante
Jim Anderson - ​Missouri Wine & Grape Board

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