http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/juanita-k-hammons-dies-96_83081.mp3
A local arts patron and wife of the late businessman John Q. Hammons has died. KSMU’s Michele Skalicky has more.
Juanita Kathleen Hammons died Tuesday at age 96 at Elfindale Manor where she had lived since 2008. The Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts, which opened in 1992, was named after her when she and husband, John Q., made a major donation to the venue’s capital campaign.
Randy Blackwood is executive director of athletic and entertainment facilities at Missouri State. He says the Hall has meant a lot both to the university and the community.
"We were re-counting shows yesterday--Broadway shows, comics, individual artists, great dance--all that have graced our stage in the last 22 years, and really none of that would have been possible without that venue. Cats, Blue Man Group, George Carlin, Bill Cosby--so many artists that probably our audiences would not have enjoyed had it not been for the construction and vision of this wonderful building," he said.
Juanita Hammons and her husband had a passion for education. They both had teaching degrees from Southwest Missouri State Teachers College—now MSU—and Juanita taught school in Marionville where she grew up and at McDaniel School in Springfield.
The Hammons were married in 1949 at Westminster Presbyterian Church.
In his book “They Called Him John Q. A Hotel Legend,” Hammons called his wife “a first class lady” and “a very stunning and gracious lady who never met a stranger.”
Randy Blackwood had the chance to meet Mrs. Hammons and describes what she was like.
"She just bubbled when she had an opportunity to talk about education and the arts. You could tell that that was her real passion," he said.
A news release from John Q. Hammons Industries states that Mrs. Hammons was an active participant in the Springfield community, sharing her husband’s desire to support the arts, sports, education and healthcare.
Several venues in Springfield bear the Hammons’ name including Hammons Field, MSU’s Hammons Student Center and JQH Arena, Hammons School of Architecture at Drury, Hammons Heart Institute and Hammons Towers.
John Q. Hammons died May 26, 2013 after 64 years of marriage to Juanita.
Graveside services will be Friday morning (5/2) at 10 at Dice Cemetery in Fairview, MO. No visitation is scheduled, but, according to their website, friends may call after 1 pm tomorrow (5/1) at Gorman-Sharpf Funeral Home, 1947 E. Seminole.