417-Land's Founding Families

This summer, we will celebrate America's 250th anniversary. It's a remarkable milestone—an opportunity to reflect on our nation's origins, its defining moments, its trials and triumphs. There will be pomp and circumstance, fireworks and parades, and backyard barbecues that stretch long past sunset.

Yet most of our history has been built quietly, by individuals who take risks and enterprises that take root. Our story is sustained by steady hands and long commitments. In southwest Missouri, some of our most enduring businesses started as modest family ventures seizing an opportunity and have grown into cornerstones of our regional economy and community life.

In this feature, we highlight three of 417-land's founding families. Their businesses began with a leap of faith: A young veteran, Ben McDonald, who arrived in town on horseback and took a Depression-era job with the local grocer. The Ollis brothers, who were drawn to the promise of opportunity on Springfield's growing Commercial Street. Father and son George W. and George M. Thompson, who entered the new and untested automobile business. What unites them isn't how they started; it's how they endured. Decade after decade, new generations entered the family business, and they built systems, created jobs and reinvested in our community.

So let's light some fireworks not just to honor America, but to honor those who still shape this place we call home.

Springfield Grocer Company

Founded in 1865

Long before refrigerated trailers and technology-driven logistics, deliveries at Springfield Grocer Company (SGC) moved by horseback, wagon and rail. In the years following the Civil War, goods bound for the Ozarks were carried to general stores across the region. From ammunition and barbed wire to coffee and everyday sundries, if it could sit on a shelf, SGC probably supplied it.

One hundred and sixty years after its 1865 founding, President and CEO Jeff Tynes today oversees a company that has grown far beyond those early deliveries. The company now serves a core market across four states, supported by a network of 14 distribution centers reaching thousands of customers. A fourth-generation family owner, Tynes has been with SGC for over thirty years, working from truck driver to the top leadership role, while maintaining the family stewardship that has anchored SGC for over a century.

The foundation for this longevity was laid in the late 1920s, when Ben McDonald—Jeff Tynes's great-grandfather—rose to lead SGC. As the consumer economy expanded, McDonald transformed SGC into a major supplier for regional grocers and helped establish its private-label brand, Yellow Bonnet Girl. In the 1950s, his son-in-law Walker Tynes became president, but after Walker's passing in 1969, leadership transitioned to his wife, Suzanne McDonald Tynes, Ben McDonald's daughter and Jeff Tynes's grandmother.

Suzanne recognized that grocery distribution was shifting toward cooperatives and large chains with their own supply systems. In 1972, SGC exited its retail accounts to focus exclusively on foodservice distribution for restaurants, health care facilities and other commercial institutions. It was a fundamental shift for the century-old business. Around the same time, Jeff's father, William Tynes, joined the business. William guided SGC into the computer age and modernized operations.

Today, SGC invests heavily in technology across its transportation fleet, warehouses, sales teams and customer service platforms. Its proprietary app centralizes account management, communication and ordering. "We've planted a flag around delivering a great technology experience, and that sets us apart," Tynes says.

Through decades of change, SGC's throughline has been its strong, value-driven culture. "My father taught me that our integrity is our institutional fabric," says Tynes. "Culture isn't just a buzzword. It's how we act every day and how we deliver success to our community and customers." That commitment was evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when SGC moved quickly to protect jobs and support employees. "We are people-driven, not shareholder-driven," Tynes says, and this approach has allowed the company to navigate challenges while sustaining growth.

It's also a cornerstone of SGC's community involvement. The company partners with organizations that help youth in need, care for the elderly and combat food insecurity. "We support countless organizations—with our hands, with fundraising, with food," Tynes says. "Being a great community partner is a big part of what drives us."

Looking ahead, SGC is investing in growth and innovation. The new distribution and culinary center in Tulsa expands service and training capabilities, while several heritage-inspired brands honor a legacy more than 160 years in the making. While SGC is 417-land's oldest surviving continuously operating business, "it's not about the years," Tynes says. "Our responsibility is to carry the legacy forward, make it stronger and deliver on it."

Ollis/Akers/Arney Insurance & Business Advisors

Founded in 1885

Sixty years ago, Springfield's Union Stockyards went up in flames, destroying structures and killing livestock. While insurance carriers paid the costly claim, they refused to renew coverage, citing the risk of another devastating fire.

Yet Ron Ollis, who represented the stockyard account at Ollis & Company Insurors (now Ollis/Akers/Arney Insurance & Business Advisors, or OAA), wouldn't take "no" for an answer. Ron stepped in with an unprecedented suggestion: Install a sprinkler system. Back then, sprinklers in a stockyard were unheard of, but the idea gained traction. The insurers saw that future risk could be mitigated, and the stockyard owner agreed to the substantial investment, which paid for itself over six years in lowered insurance premiums and safer operations.

It's just one of many stories that illustrate OAA's 140 years of business in Springfield. For four generations, the Ollis family has stood at the crossroads of people's lives, helping individuals and businesses protect their livelihood, their property and their future. When the unthinkable occurs, they navigate the space between loss and recovery—between the insured and the insurer—advocating for fair outcomes and ensuring that life and business can move forward.

Founded in 1885 by brothers Alfred, Charles and Richard Ollis, the company—then called A.W. Ollis—was originally involved in real estate development, home loans and insurance. Over time, the second generation joined the family business, including brothers Lawrence and Alfred. In 1955, Lawrence died unexpectedly, and Alfred invited Hester Ollis—Lawrence's widow and Ron's mother—to join the company as business partner.

Although Hester had attended a business college, she had no formal experience. However, she was soon handling complex accounts. "My mother was a quick learner and tremendous listener," Ron says. "People had a lot of confidence in her." When Ron joined the business in 1958, Hester was his mentor. "I would struggle to write business letters and ask her for help. Thirty minutes later, I had a perfect letter. All I had to do was sign it," Ron says. Their partnership helped carry the business into the corporate area, when it became Ollis & Company in 1962.

Twenty years later, under Ron's leadership, the company adopted an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, or ESOP. The concept was new and somewhat radical for a family-owned business, because employees would become owners, but Ron knew it would be the catalyst for growth in the years to come. "It attracted capable people, provided retirement income, and allowed us to acquire other agencies," says Ron.

Today, Ron's son Richard is leading Ollis/Akers/Arney Insurance & Business Advisors as CEO. "The growth under Richard's tenure has been unbelievable," Ron says. Firmly rooted in 417-land, OAA now has three locations and 65 employees and conducts business in 39 states. A dedicated community leader, Richard has served as past Chairman of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce and served on city council for six years. "Richard is continuing our longstanding devotion to bettering our community," Ron says.

He adds, "My grandfather would be proud that our family has continued the business into the fourth generation. He would be pleased to see our work ethic and how we are always available to those in need of help."

Thompson Sales Company

Founded in 1919

For Miles Thompson, the best moment in the car business isn't closing the deal; it's handing over the keys. "I love seeing the customer pick up a new car. It's like Christmas morning," says Thompson, who is the Dealer President of Thompson Sales Company. Yet for Thompson, that singular moment doesn't just represent a sale. It represents decades of trust, including repeat customers whose parents and grandparents purchased vehicles from the dealership long ago.

Since 1919, Thompson Sales Co. has been family-owned and operated. That year, father-son duo George W. and George M. Thompson, Sr. began selling used tires and wagons. Back then the business was called Thompson-Racine Tire Co., and the Racine Tire was guaranteed for an unprecedented 6,000 miles—so the company made #6000 its phone number. Within a few years, the business merged with others, changed its name, and moved to a larger facility. In 1927, it became a Cadillac franchise, and in 1932, added a Pontiac franchise.

During this time period, the company—then known as Thompson Tire Co.—opened the first "drive-in" service department in the area. The decision proved pivotal. Travelers journeying west along Route 66 made the business a trusted stop for motorists in need of service. "The drive-in really started building our identity as a first-quality service destination," Thompson says.

By the 1950s, Thompson Sales Co. was a fixture of Springfield life. In 1952, President Harry S. Truman visited Springfield for a military reunion. During the parade in Truman's honor, Ronald and Nancy Reagan—who were in town for a movie premiere—passed by in a Cadillac convertible owned by Thompson Sales Co. The moment was captured in a newspaper photo, with a Thompson Sales billboard towering in the background.

Thompson Sales Co. is no stranger to challenges. The company weathered World War II, when General Motors halted civilian vehicle production to build tanks. It has faced economic slumps, oil embargoes, tariffs, supply chain issues and rapid technological change. "In the mid-90s, we had to build a website. I had no idea what that meant," Thompson says. "There are a lot of things we can't control, and we have learned to pivot quickly to keep the business afloat."

And afloat it has remained. The company added a GMC franchise in 1996, and today, its 14-acre location on Independence Street is staffed by 130 employees and has an inventory of more than 900 new and pre-owned vehicles, as well as a body shop, service center and parts department. This summer, the company will open a standalone quick-lube facility just west of the dealership.

Through it all, one constant has been family leadership. Miles is a fourth-generation owner, serving alongside his uncle Lynn, who is Chairman of the Board. The dealership is supported by a team of family members in key roles and now extends into the fifth generation. Miles credits that continuity with fostering a workplace where employees stay for decades. "We treat our employees like family, and it benefits the customer in the long run," he says.

Miles continues, "Our family is local, and we support many organizations and schools. This community has trusted us for generations. I don't take any of it for granted."