1905
The Coca-Cola Franchise for the Springfield MO area is sold to Electric Bottling Company/Farmer’s Beverages. The company operates in the Producers Creamery & Produce building at 545-549 West Phelps
1920
The Rice family acquires the Coca-Cola Franchise from the Electric Bottling Company/Farmer’s Beverages and moves from Fulton, KY to Springfield, MO
21
First By-laws for Springfield Coca-Cola are approved at the inaugural Stockholder meeting. First Board of Directors meeting to elect Officers: EC Rice, President; Dr. SW Paris, Vice-President; CE Rice, Secretary; RM Rice, Treasurer and Mrs. EC Rice, Manager
22
Board of Directors fixes salaries for EC Rice and RM Rice at $225/mo, CE (Earle) Rice at $150/mo
25
Springfield Coca-Cola moves operations to 308-310 West Commercial
Aurora Plant is acquired for 160 shares of Springfield Coca-Cola stock
27
The Rice Family sells their Bolivar bottling operation to the Kleeman family for $5,000
1930
34
Shareholders receive 5% dividend of $2,685
Springfield Coca-Cola moves to 930 North Clay (the corner of Clay and Central, now part of the Drury campus)
38
Ed Rice’s children – Tookie (Virginia) and Cookie (Ed, Jr.) – become shareholders in the company
Directors authorize a $6,000 loan from City National Bank of Fulton to build a new garage
1940
The Company sponsored the 1940 Coca-Cola Goodwill Golf Tournament. The men in the front row are Ed Rice (left) and Earle Rice (right).
41
WW2 shortages lead to sugar rationing
45
Ed Heer (pictured here with his wife Virginia Rice) is elected to the Board
46
$10,000 expansion loan authorized
47
Banking relationship becomes local Union National Bank in Springfield, MO
48
Executive Team & Clay Street Plant
1950
Ed Heer becomes Secretary of the Company and Ed “Cookie” Rice, Jr. is elected to the Board
Springfield Coca-Cola recreational softball team (1950s)
1960
Corporate Staff (1960s)
Ed Rice, Sr. (1960s)
1970
Ed “Cookie” Rice Jr. is elected President of the Company and R&H Vending is acquired in an all-stock deal
Springfield Plant (1970s)
73
Significant capital investments modernize the company’s bottling capabilities, allowing the production of returnable plastic bottles
74
Consultants recommend renovating or replacing the aging North Clay building
First Retirement Plan is implemented for company employees
75
First company computer is purchased, an NCR Century 50 with only 16k of memory
Packer Road property is purchased for the future company location
76
Construction of the new facility begins
77
Springfield Coca-Cola moves to new location on 1777 North Packer Road
79
The Rice family acquires franchise rights for the Rolla/Salem territory from the Massey Family, changing the business name to Ozarks Coca-Cola Bottling Company
1980
82
Diet Coke is launched
83
Ozarks Coca-Cola re-acquires the Bolivar territory from the Kleeman family
87
Celebrating the Dr Pepper Franchise purchase from the Garland Reynolds family
1990
2000
2005
Springfield franchise celebrates 100th year
2010
Celebration for 90 years family owned, 105 years of Coca-Cola in the Ozarks, and Dr Pepper’s 125th anniversary
Ed “Cookie” Rice, Jr. CEO with daughter Sally Hargis, Chairman
11
Coca-Cola 125th anniversary celebration
15
Ed “Cookie” Rice, Jr. signs papers for the acquisition of the Joplin territory from the Coca-Cola Company
West Plains territory is acquired from the Coca-Cola Company
17
Franchise rights for the Northwest Arkansas territory are acquired from the Coca-Cola Company
19
Missouri Governor Mike Parson inspecting the new bottling line
2nd, 3rd and 4th generation family owners, ages 19 to 89
2020
Celebrates 100 years as a family owned business on March 20, 2020
2020 marks 700+ employees with a combined total of 5,038 years of service to the company