Ozarks Profile: Trophy business adapts, expands with technology

His parents named him William, but most folks just call him Bull.

A standout high school and college athlete, William "Bull" Starnes has been making plaques, awards and trophies for more than 40 years. Starnes, who is 65, began making trophies at Swan-Virdon Sporting Goods back in 1960.

In 1963, he decided to start his own business, and he began soliciting customers.

When Starnes filled out his first supply order, a salesman noticed the paperwork wasn't quite complete. Starnes had neglected to fill in the name of his store.

In fact, he hadn't picked out a name for the store yet.

The salesman suggested calling the store Bull's Trophy House, and the name stuck.

Today, the store's name is about the only thing that hasn't changed at this downtown Springfield business. Bull's Trophy House has moved three times over the years. Awards that once were made out of metal or wood can now be made out of acrylic, plastic, glass and other materials.

The design for most awards also has become more complex, and engraving that once was done by hand now is done by computerized equipment.

According to Starnes, making awards has evolved from a labor-intensive, low-volume business to a computer-driven, high-volume business.

"I could fill several football fields with the trophies, plaques and other awards I've made over the years," Starnes said.

"It's not unusual for us to make more than a thousand awards in a week's time."

Incredibly, Bull's Trophy House has just one employee, Mark Batten, who has been with the company for more than 14 years.

Batten is a jack-of-all-trades, but most of his time is spent assembling awards for high-volume customers.

Some of Bull's Trophy House's high-volume customers include the Ozark Empire Fair, Springfield Public Schools, Southwest Missouri State University, the Assemblies of God and the International Fair Association, which oversees the operation of every state, county and local fair in America. Starnes also makes awards for bowling leagues, golf tournaments, races and every type of local sporting event imaginable.

The awards made at Bull's Trophy House can be found almost everywhere in the home of a former high school football star or in the mansion of a movie star like Bob Hope, who received a plaque of appreciation when he opened Hammons Student Center.

Former Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush also have received awards made at Bull's Trophy House.

Not all of the awards made at Bull's Trophy House are serious, however.

According to Starnes, he's made some pretty amusing awards not all of which have been well-received.

"I've fielded a few phone calls over the years," Starnes said.

"If somebody comes in here, I try not to ask too many questions. Every once in awhile, though, I'll remind a customer that humor is subjective."

If appearances are any indication, Starnes has a friendly relationship with most of his customers.

Bulls in different sizes and motifs can be found throughout Bull's Trophy House, and customers are always bringing Starnes new ones.

"I'd say that 90 percent of my business comes from repeat customers," Starnes said. "I know many of them personally, and my customer base now extends out about 150 miles in any direction from Springfield."

In addition to making trophies, plaques and other awards, Bull's Trophy House contains a second business called Banners & Brainstorms.

Starnes' wife Marilyn runs Banners & Brainstorms with the couple's youngest daughter, Chantel Rotert, who has worked in the family business for the past 10 years.

Together, they use industrial computerized machinery to digitize logos and designs that are embroidered on everything from T-shirts to toilet paper. Like Bull's Trophy House, Banners & Brainstorms does a high volume of business.

Given the volume of business between Bull's Trophy House and Banners & Brainstorms, Bull Starnes usually puts in a 50- to 60-hour work week and he still enjoys his job after 40 years.

Maybe that's why he has no immediate plans to retire. When he does retire, however, his successor will likely discover that the wit and character Bull Starnes brings to trophy designing make him one hard act to follow.

Bull's Trophy House

Year founded: 1963

Owner's name: Bull's Trophy House

Address and phone number: 601 S. Kimbrough, Springfield 65806; 869-8720