John Hammons Dies at Age 94

He developed 210 hotel properties in 40 states during a 52-year career. John Hammons, hotel developer and philanthropist, died in Springfield, Missouri at the age of 94, a spokeswoman for John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts said.

While many of the early hotels Hammons built were Holiday Inns, today’s portfolio of hotels include Marriott brands (Renaissance, Courtyard by Marriott, and Residence Inn by Marriott), Hilton brands (Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, and Homewood Suites), and several independent properties including those named University Plazas and the award-winning Chateau on the Lake Resort and Conference Center in Branson, Missouri. He avoided big-city locations in favor of properties in college towns and state capitals. Hammons once said, “The kids will always go to school, and you can’t fire the damn politicians.”

John Hammons was preceded in death by his parents, James O. and Hortense Bass Hammons, and his sister, Wrenna Quentilla Hammons. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Juanita K. Hammons, of Springfield.