Jim D. Morris is known for philanthropy and careers in oil, real estate and hospitality.
Economic Impact Award finalists announced
SBJ Staff
Posted online
An independent panel of judges has selected the finalists for Springfield Business Journal's 2008 Economic Impact Awards.
Recognition will be given in six categories: certified public accounting firms, engineering firms, commercial general contractors, Charitable Organization of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year and Innovator of the Year.
The 2008 Lifetime Achievement in Business Award will be presented to Jim D. Morris, the founder of Morris Oil Co. and a real estate and hotel developer.
Presented alphabetically in each category, the finalists are:
CPA firms: BKD LLP; Kirkpatrick, Phillips & Miller PC; and Whitlock, Selim & Keehn LLP
Engineering firms: Butler, Rosenbury & Partners Inc.; Geo Engineers Inc.; and Olsson Associates Inc.
Commercial general contractors: Carson-Mitchell Inc.; DeWitt & Associates Inc.; and The Killian Group of Cos.
Charitable Organization of the Year: Ozarks Area Community Action Corp.; Ozarks Food Harvest Inc.; and Springfield Victory Mission Inc.
Entrepreneur of the Year: Shawn Askinosie of Askinosie Chocolate; Sheila Collins of Springfield Granite-Plus; and Paul Sundy of Big Whiskey's, Parlor 88, Icon and Fedora
Innovator of the Year: Springfield-Greene County Library District; Springfield-Greene County Park Board; and Springfield Regional Arts Council
Lifetime Achievement Award winner Morris founded Morris Oil Co. in 1958 with a $4,700 loan from Standard Oil and grew the company to 60 stores and more than 50 million gallons of fuel sold a year in the 1980s and 1990s. His other business ventures include real estate - he at one time owned five hotels in Springfield and Branson - and banking, where he helped found Signature Bank.[[In-content Ad]]
Among bond projects that include all school buildings in the Willard Public School District, two are linked with a common design team and timeline: a 1,100-square-foot addition to North Elementary and renovations of 5,000 square feet of space at both North Elementary and Willard Middle School.