A few weeks ago I had the honor of attending a reception for the purpose of unveiling of a large oil portrait of the late John Q. Hammons. Mr. Hammons was a pioneer in building hotels and resorts. The unveiling took place in what I believe was one of his first (if not the first) hotels he built, University Plaza Hotel in Springfield, Missouri. If you are from the Springfield area or attended school there, you likely recognize his name as he was extremely generous with the entire area. His name is on a number of buildings as well as a street. It was quite an honor to paint his portrait. It is my understanding that reproductions of the painting will hang in the hotels and resorts.