SPRINGFIELD, Mo., May 27 (UPI) -- Upscale hotelier and philanthropist John Q. Hammons of Springfield, Mo., died Monday at age 94.
His legacy includes the development of 210 hotels across 40 states. He formed John Q. Hammons Hotels in 1969 and built it into the largest private independent chain of upscale hotels in the United States, the Springfield, Mo., News-Leader reported.
The company today operates 78 hotels, the business information company Business Wire said.
Hammons' contributions to the city of Springfield, Mo., included shopping centers, residential subdivisions, country clubs, hotels and his namesake baseball stadium, Hammons Field. He was also a major contributor to Missouri State University in Springfield, the newspaper said.
Although his name was James, he introduced himself as "John Q. Hammons" to convey a message he represented the public, and the nickname became his calling card, Business Wire said.
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