Domino's franchisee, avid sports fan dies at 67

Last edited 10:25 a.m., Oct. 2, 2025 [Editor's note: Service information has been added.]

Marty Prather, a Springfield-area Domino's Pizza franchisee who was known for his love of sports, has died.

Prather, 67, died Sept. 28, according to his obituary posted to the website of Greenlawn Funeral Home. A cause of death was not listed in the obituary, which notes services are pending. 

With business partner Art Hurteau, Prather operated dozens of Domino's Pizza franchise restaurants via A&M Pizza Inc.

Prather and Hurteau this spring were recognized by Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Domino's Pizza, Inc. (Nasdaq: DPZ) with the 2025 Gold Franny Award for operational excellence. The honor was the 10th Gold Franny Award for Hurteau and Prather, according to a May news release, which noted the business partners' nearly 100 years of combined experience with Domino’s and their operation of 41 franchises in the Springfield area and northwest Arkansas. 

“We are incredibly honored to receive a Gold Franny Award, but we must give credit to the great team members we have in all of our stores,” Prather said in the release. “Seeing the motivation that each of our managers bring to work every day motivates us to be better for them."

Debbie Sweeney, Domino’s senior vice president of franchise relations and system engagement, said in the release that Prather and Hurteau "are incredibly hard-working" and that "their involvement in the community and motivation to be the best of the best make them an incredible asset to Domino’s."

Hurteau was unavailable for comment by deadline.

Beyond his Domino's franchise work, Prather was known as the "Sign Man" in the regional sports world, as he often held custom-made signs at both Springfield and St. Louis Cardinals games, as well as Missouri State University Bears bouts.

"Marty advocated, cheered and supported our team tirelessly since day one," the Springfield Cardinals posted on Facebook. "Every game with Marty and his signs made the day seem significant because he was a true Cardinal. We’ll miss the signs, but not nearly as much as we will miss the man." 

Prather was memorialized as "a true legend" in a Facebook post by MSU and as a "local legend (and ever-loyal customer and friend)" in a post from Springfield-based WiseGuys Screen Print. 

A visitation for Prather is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Oct. 5 at Greenlawn Funeral Home East, followed by funeral services at 10 a.m. on Oct. 6 at Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts.