Introducing Brian Hammons:
Brian Hammons is President and CEO of Hammons Products Company in Stockton, Missouri. He is the third generation leader of the unique company, which was started in 1946 and is the leading commercial processor of American Black Walnuts. The company provides a market every fall for wild Black Walnuts from people in Missouri and surrounding states, shelling them and selling the nutmeats as a food ingredient and the hard nutshells as an abrasive for machine cleaning, filtration, and oil drilling.
Brian grew up in the Springfield area, the rural town of Stockton. He earned a B.S. in Marketing from Missouri State University and a J.D. (law degree) from Southern Methodist University Law School in Dallas, TX. He has been actively involved in the Black Walnut company since 1987 after practicing law in Kansas City. He also has experience with other tree nuts, having run the company’s Ellis Pecan Co. business in Fort Worth, TX in the mid-90’s before selling it successfully. Brian was named President of Hammons Products in 1997 when his father Dwain retired, and in July 1999 he was also named CEO of the company.
Beyond the company, he currently serves as Chairman of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He is active in Schweitzer Church where he sings in the choir and occasionally teaches classes, and also serves on the board of the Foundation for Evangelism. Brian previously served the United Methodist Church as Missouri Conference Lay Leader, led General Conference delegations and chaired the Jurisdiction’s Committee on Episcopacy. He also serves or has served on the boards for many other organizations, including Mercy Hospital Springfield, Victory Mission, the Missouri State University Board of Governors, and the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, and was named one of “50 Missourians You Need to Know” by Ingram’s Kansas City magazine.
Brian and his wife of 43 years, Kim, have 3 grown children and 4 grandchildren. Brian’s primary hobby is running, having completed 43 marathons including the Boston Marathon 13 times.