1932
Born in Steele, Pemiscot County, Missouri, to Sam Farris and Victoria Hamra.
1954
Received business degree from the University of Missouri and serves as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army in Nuremberg, Germany, Bamberg, Germany, and Fort Meade, Maryland, from 1954-1956.
1959
Earned an LLB degree from the University of Missouri, is admitted to practice law in the state of Missouri, and joins Miller, Fairman & Sanford law firm in Springfield, Missouri.
1965
Established Law Offices of Sam F. Hamra and later, Hamra and Crow in Springfield, Missouri, and serves as City Attorney for Nixa, Missouri (1965-1970).
1967
Founded and is elected charter president of the Rotary Club of Springfield Southeast.
1975
Founded and serves as President/CEO of Wendy’s of Missouri.
1984
Elected president of the Southern Federation of Syrian Lebanese American Clubs, whose primary beneficiary is St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
1985
Elected to the board of directors of ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, sponsored by Danny Thomas.
1986
Elected chairman of the board of Cox Hospital in Springfield, Missouri.
1997
Appointed by President Clinton as U.S. Civilian Aide to the Secretary of U.S. Army for Western Missouri, and serves as Governmental Relations Attorney for Branson, Missouri (1991-2005).
2001
Founded Hamra Enterprises to oversee all Hamra entities, which grew to include 170 restaurants, (91 Wendy’s, 70 Panera Bread Cafes and 9 Noodles & Company Restaurants).
2003
Received the University of Missouri “Distinguished Service Award” for being named the “Outstanding Alumni of the Year.”
2008
Began serving on the board of directors of the OTC Foundation at Ozarks Technical Community College.
2009
Received the “Dave Thomas Founder’s Award” by being named “Outstanding Wendy’s International Franchisee of the Year.” Elected president of Bear’s Paw Country Club, Naples, Florida.
2012
Dedicated the 11,000 sq. ft. “Sam F. Hamra Center for Justice” office building, for founding and serving as the first board chair of Legal Services of Southern Missouri in 1976.
2015
Dedicated the “Sam and June Hamra Family Garden” at Cox Hospital, and the “Sam and June Hamra Family Library” at Ozarks Technical Community College.
2017
Announced the “Sam and June Hamra Family Support Services Building” for the Kitchen Emergency Shelter on the O’Reilly Campus, and dedicated the “June S. Hamra Recital Hall,” Missouri State University.
2018
Named the “Springfieldian of the Year” by the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce.
2018
Received Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award, is featured in the Wall Street Journal, April 14th and May 15th editions, and in the Executive Spotlight of the Marquis Prestigious Listees.
2018
Recognized by Marquis Who’s Who for “Lifelong Dedication to Philanthropy,” with picture featured on the Reuter’s Sign in Times Square, New York, from June 14th-19th, 2018.