SBJ Lifetime award given posthumously

The former owner of The Harry Cooper Supply Co. will posthumously receive the Lifetime Achievement in Business award during Springfield Business Journal’s 2018 Economic Impact Awards in July. The award recognizes excellence in business and impact on the community.

After a long career running the family business, Harry Cooper died in April at age 91. He and his brother, Jack, took over the distributing business of plumbing, electrical, waterworks and HVAC supplies that their grandfather founded in 1908. Harry Cooper sold the business to his nephew, John Cooper, several years ago. 

Chosen by an independent panel of judges, the award to Cooper will be the first time SBJ gives the Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously.

Several other awards will be presented during the 18th annual ceremony: KPM CPAs PC will receive the Philanthropic Business of the Year honors; Ozarks Technical Community College’s Center for Workforce Development will be recognized as Business Advocate of the Year; Jamie Dopp of City Utilities of Springfield will be honored as Community Involvement Champion; Jennifer Baker, founder of Good Dads Inc., will receive Entrepreneur of the Year; and Community Partnership of the Ozarks will receive the Charitable Nonprofit of the Year award.

Economic impact honors also will be announced in three categories based on years in business. Finalists, in alphabetical order, are:

• Hurts Donut Co., a hip joint Springfield LLC and TheraCare Outpatient Services LLC, in the one to five years in business category;

• Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri, Phoenix Home Care Inc. and Sun Solar LLC for six to 15 years in business;

• Little Sunshine’s Playhouse and Preschool Inc., Oasis Hotel & Convention Center and Integrity Home Care Inc. for 16 to 29 years in business; and

• CoxHealth, Mercy Hospital Springfield and Penmac Staffing Services Inc. for more than 30 years in business.

The Economic Impact Awards banquet begins at 5:30 p.m. July 26 at the Oasis Hotel & Convention Center.

Tickets are $65 apiece and are available at SBJ.net/EIA.