The late Jim Thompson, a retired labor relations director for Burlington-Northern Railroad, was one of more than 100 writers, educators and interested citizens who gathered in the Midtown Carnegie Branch (then called the Main Library) of the Springfield-Greene County Library District in Springfield, Missouri, one fall evening in 1994. The group called itself The Write Stuff. Harrison, a respected
advocate for children and education, moderated a brainstorming session with the purpose of soliciting ideas to help area youth recognize the importance and value of writing to their futures. It was Thompson's suggestion to form a Writers Hall of Fame with the two-fold purpose of recognizing those who have made a significant contribution to writing and to encourage young people to develop reading and writing skills. Later, author Sandy Asher added a third mission: to use the proceeds from honoring authors to award scholarships to high school students. Harrison, the late Eddie Bass, a newspaper reporter, and Jeanne Duffey, at the time community relations director for the Springfield-Greene County Library District, joined with Thompson to form the nucleus of a committee to organize the Writers Hall of Fame. Leaders from around the community agreed to serve on a Board of Directors to organize the first event, an induction and dinner. Jean Carnahan, wife of the late Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan, gave her support and organizations around the state became sponsors. Writers Hall of Fame Inductees at that first event on April 27, 1995, at Highland Springs Country Club in Springfield, Missouri, included David Harrison, John Hulston, Springfield lawyer and Ozarks history writer, Lebanon, Missouri, teacher and novelist Ellen Gray Massey and turn-of-the-century humorist and novelist Mark Twain. Eight area high school seniors received scholarships and numerous other writing prizes were awarded. Since that time, the venue of the events have differed, but scholarships to students have numbered more than 100 and 48 authors have been honored.
