- Current Chair of the Missouri State University Foundation Board of Trustees, member since 2007 appointment
- Member of The Founders Club and Platinum Medallion Recipient, along with his wife, Barbara
- Missouri State University Alumnus: B.S. 1972
- Received the Missouri State University Outstanding Young Alumni Award in 1991
- Lifelong resident of Springfield, Missouri
Mike Ingram and his wife, Barbara, have chosen to make an impact on Missouri State University in many ways. Through gifts of time and financial support they are leaving a legacy for generations to come.
The Mike and Barbara Ingram Endowed Scholarship was established to assist Missouri State students who demonstrate financial need seeking a degree in any academic area, and are graduates of Parkview High School. Preference is given to first generation college students.
Recently, Mike and Barbara made a substantial contribution to the new Davis-Harrington Welcome Center which resulted in the naming of the Welcome Center Lobby in their names.
“I had a wonderful time at Southwest Missouri State College, now MSU. I am a lifelong Springfield, MO, resident and I consider it my obligation to support the University that I attended as well as the Community in which I live,” Mr. Ingram said.
Mr. Ingram graduated from Missouri State in 1972. He worked through college selling fireworks in Springfield and Branson over the Fourth of July season and promoting rock and roll concerts during the school year. He was also a member of the Kappa Alpha Order. Before Ingram graduated he was already an entrepreneur. Ingram formed Ingram Enterprises, Inc. dba Fireworks Over America, which has grown into one of the largest fireworks import and wholesale operations in the United States. He continued to operate his retail fireworks locations expanding his year-round interstate retail fireworks operations which now include 16 locations and is one of the largest interstate retail fireworks operations in the United States.
In the years following graduation Ingram opened a slew of businesses. Bear Book and Record Shop was opened to service the needs of students attending Missouri State. Wet Willy’s Water Slide was operated in Springfield and was one of the first water slides in the United States. He was one of nine investors and the Vice-President of National Avenue Building Company, the developer of Bradford Park on the Medical Mile. Then with four other partners he formed the corporation known as Sunset Cove, Ltd. which is a luxury condominium and estate lot development located on Table Rock Lake. Ingram established Primetime Properties, LCC, a real estate development company that has developed commercial and industrial properties in Springfield and Columbia, South Carolina. Ingram also developed the Ozark Trails Affordable Housing Project in Ozark, Missouri.
To add to the list of Mr. Ingram’s accomplishments and contributions, he and his wife have two children and two grandchildren. Because of his contributions Mr. Ingram continues to help further the growth of Springfield and the Missouri State campus.
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