Missouri Sports Hall of Fame director to exit amid PCCC fundraising woes

The two-year CEO and executive director of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame is headed out as the nonprofit faces financial issues related to its annual charity golf tournament.

The MSHOF board voted Nov. 22 to accept Byron Shive's resignation, with an effective date of Dec. 31, according to a news release. The board additionally voted unanimously to bring back former longtime MSHOF leader Jerald Andrews as interim CEO on a part-time basis through an independent consultant agreement.

"A strategic plan was approved by the board for continuing the operations of the MSHOF with Mr. Andrews overseeing the day-to-day affairs on an interim basis," officials said in the release. "Mr. Andrews will report directly to the board on a monthly or more frequent basis as necessary to ensure transparency and accountability."

The MSHOF recently canceled the annual Celebration of Sharing event through which area children’s charities receive funding raised through the Price Cutter Charity Championship. The MSHOF serves as the host organization for the tournament at Highland Springs.

In a statement following the cancellation announcement, Shive said "tournament revenue was less than projected, expenses were more than expected and the invoicing to donors and sponsors was delayed by the absence of a staff member due to personal reasons."

The board's strategic plan approved at its Nov. 22 meeting notes three steps the organization plans to take: starting distributions to PCCC charities "as quickly as possible"; stabilizing current operations and creating a workable budget for the remainder of 2024; and developing a schedule of events and budget for 2025. The schedule of events is slated to include the PCCC tournament in summer 2025 and the MSHOF's annual enshrinement ceremony in February.

"The board addressed the current financial issues related to the PCCC tournament and the ongoing operations, with a focus on bringing the accounting records up to date and gaining clarity on the organization's obligations, while ensuring the MSHOF's mission remains at the forefront," officials said in the release.

Andrews, who previously served as CEO and executive director of the MSHOF for 27 years until his 2022 retirement, also will assist in the organization's search for a permanent, full-time replacement for Shive, according to the release. When asked for a statement from Shive, MSHOF spokesperson Kary Booher said the news release issued yesterday would be its only comment.

Since its debut in 1990, the PCCC tournament at Highland Springs has raised roughly $20.5 million for local nonprofits, according to past reporting.