O’Reilly family awarded for business acumen

The Irish immigrant family who found success in the automotive industry was recognized Friday afternoon with the 2006 OTC Excellence in Business Award. Four heirs were on hand at Ozarks Technical Community College to receive the award and give a little insight into what keeps O’Reilly Automotive rolling.

Brothers Charlie, David and Larry O’Reilly and sister Rosalie O’Reilly Wooten sat down for a conversation with Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce President Jim Anderson before a crowd of 300, many dressed in green.

The conversation covered their family and business memories, personal lives and business outlook. The family highlighted O’Reilly Automotive’s 100th auto parts store opening and initial public offering (Nasdaq: ORLY) in 1993 and its $2 billion sales milestone reached last year.

But any talk of success kept coming back to family values acted out in the O’Reilly Culture developed by the siblings’ father and company co-founder Charles H. “Chub” O’Reilly. The culture, now tabbed Live Green, consists of hard work and commitment.

“A principle that was taught to us as we grew up was to lead by example,” Larry O’Reilly told the crowd.

That culture has spilled over into the community.

“Yes, they’re great businesspeople, but their heart is with the needs of this community,” Greene County Commissioner Harold Bengsch said after the event. “That’s what makes them so special. Anywhere there seems to be a need, there seems to be an O’Reilly.”

The award is in its second year. Springfield hotelier and developer John Q. Hammons received the first Excellence in Business Award, chosen by OTC’s Students in Free Enterprise.

Mediacom, On Media, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce and Springfield Business Journal are sponsors.

SBJ Reporter Jeremy Elwood contributed to this story.

Click here for the full story from March 27.