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William H. DarrPhoto courtesy SPRINGFIELD AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
William H. Darr

Photo courtesy SPRINGFIELD AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Darr named Springfieldian of the Year

Posted online
William H. Darr has been named the 2011 Springfieldian of the Year by the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce.

Darr, founder of American Dehydrated Foods Inc., International Dehydrated Foods Inc., and the Darr Family Foundation, was given the award Jan. 28 during the chamber's 2011 Annual Meeting at University Plaza Convention Center, according to a news release.

Each year, the chamber chooses an honoree based on that person's community service record, excellence in his or her chosen profession and dedication to improving the quality of life for other Springfieldians.

Darr's contributions to Missouri State University have led to the school naming the William H. Darr School of Agriculture and the Darr Agricultural Center after him.

“His dream is just to make something better for other people, " Anson Elliott, department head of the William H. Darr School of Agriculture, said in the release. "All of the gifts he has given not only to our organization but to others are because he wants to make a difference in somebody’s life."

The Darr Agricultural Center is also the host site of the annual Cattle Baron's Ball, an American Cancer Society fundraising gala.

Darr founded American Dehydrated Foods  in 1978, International Dehydrated Foods in 1982, and Food Ingredients Technology Company in 1990.

His business success with the three companies helped fund the Darr Family Foundation in 2002, which continues to be funded primarily by Darr and his family, the release said.

Past honorees:
1957 – Durward G. Hall
1958 – Ed Baxter
1959 – Eugene F. Johnson
1960 – Lester E. Cox
1961 – G. Pearson Ward
1962 – Max Van Hook
1963 – E. L. Anderson
1964 – Thomas H. Baird Jr.
1965 – E. A. Martin Jr.
1966 – J.H.G. Cooper
1967 – James A. Jeffries Sr.
1968 – Flavius Freeman
1969 – Don C. Dailey
1970 – G. Frank Knox
1971  – William E. Everheart
1972 – Dr. L.E. Meador
1973 – Del E. Caywood
1974 – Thomas F. Zimmerman
1975 – Dr. Joe Kuklenski Jr.
1976 – James F. Payne
1977 – James K. Cook
1978 – John K. Hulston
1979 – William V. Turner
1980 – John Q. Hammons
1981 – Lester L. Cox
1982 – C. Arch Bay
1983 – Ralph Foster
1984 – Bill Henderson
1985 – Gene Everett
1986 – Lee McLean
1987 – Don Wessel
1988 – Ed Deck
1989 – Dr. John E. Moore Jr.
1990 – Rev. Dorsey E. Levell
1991 – Ray F. Aton
1992 – Mary Kay Meek
1993 – Michael J. Williamson
1994 – Chris W. Nattinger
1995 – Robert E. Roundtree
1996 – Ben A. Parnell
1997 – Charlie O’Reilly
1998 – Jan Horton
1999 – Kenneth L. Carter
2000 –  Jack Stack
2001 – John L. Morris
2002 – Tom Finnie
2003 – Roseann Bentley
2004 – Dr. Robert Spence
2005 – Jim Anderson
2006 – Ralph K. Manley
2007 – Kenneth E. Meyer
2008 – Annie Busch
2009 – Bill Foster
2010 – Brian Fogle
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