August 5, 2024

Franchise Times by Laura Michaels

Sam Hamra, who opened his first Wendy’s restaurant nearly 50 years ago, died August 2 at his home. The founder of Hamra Enterprises was 92.

Hamra began practicing law in Springfield, Missouri, in 1959, and in 1975 opened his first Wendy’s restaurant in the city. Hamra Enterprises grew to operate 97 Wendy’s restaurants nationwide and now also has 91 Panera Bread units, seven Noodles & Co. locations and is developing Caribou Coffee franchises in Missouri.

Hamra Enterprises is ranked No. 26 on the Franchise Times Restaurant 200 as it finished 2023 with $466 million in revenue. It has 7,400 employees in 11 states.

In 2011, Hamra passed the role of CEO to his son, Mike Hamra, who in a statement said his father “loved his family deeply and cherished and appreciated any time that he could spend in enjoying life with them.”

“He loved Southwest Missouri and worked to contribute back to the Springfield area, which he and my mom have called home for over 65 years,” said Mike Hamra. “We will all miss him dearly but are grateful for the special and loving relationship of 67 years he had with our mother, and that they were blessed with four children and 10 grandchildren.”

Sam Hamra was born January 21, 1932, in Steele, Missouri. He received his business and law degrees from the University of Missouri. Before beginning his law career at Miller, Fairman & Sanford Law Firm, he served as an officer in the U.S. Army Field Artillery in Germany and Fort Meade, Maryland, from 1954 to 1956.

He later established a private practice and helped form Legal Services of Southern Missouri in Springfield, which helps citizens whose legal needs are unmet by other traditional legal services. Hamra served as delegate to three Democratic National Conventions and as a presidential elector. He also served as state treasurer of the Missouri Democratic Party.

He served on several boards, including Rotary Club of Springfield Southeast, of which he was a founding member and charter president. In 2018, the Springfield Chamber of Commerce honored Hamra with the Springfieldian of the Year award, and in 2022 Springfield Mayor Ken McClure presented him with a key to the city.

“Sam Hamra never met a stranger in his life. He leaves behind a legacy of great achievement, compassion and care for all people, and an ambition to leave the world a better place,” Hamra’s obituary said.

He is survived by his wife, June; son Michael Hamra and his wife, Eileen; two daughters, Karen Groves and her husband, Bob, and Jacqueline Mesa and her husband, Carlos; and 10 grandchildren. Also surviving are two sisters, Joan Hamra and Marilyn White (Tom); sister-in-law Carolyn Hamra, and several nephews, nieces, and relatives. His father, Sam Farris Hamra, his mother, Victoria A. Hamra, his brother, Jerry Hamra, and his son, Sam F. Hamra III, preceded him in death.

Memorial contributions can be made to St. James Episcopal Church, Ozark Technical Community College, Legal Services of Southern Missouri, CoxHealth Foundation or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.