John Q. Hammons' medical care, successor CEO pass Lt. Gov. Kinder inquiry

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (LakeExpo.com) — After looking into the health condition of John Q. Hammons and the well being of his business, Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder told the media on Monday he presumed the new CEO of John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts is, "Acting in good faith."

According to an official statement from the company, Jacquie Dowdy has been appointed Chief Executive Officer in the absence of the company's 91-year-old founder.

John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts has declined to publicly comment about the details of Hammon's condition as he lays at The Manor at Elfindale nursing home in Springfield, Mo. Both Hammons' primary physician and cardiologist have requested Hammons have no visitors or phone calls. "Hammons’ medical care is directed by a team of experts from the world renowned Cleveland Clinic in cooperation with his personal physician," the company said in a press release Monday. Hammons underwent surgery at the Cleveland Clinic in 2008.

"We are talking about a gentleman, without going into details, that is suffering from multiple cardiovascular problems and pulmonary issues at age 91," Lt. Gov. Kinder said Monday outside the Hammons Center in Springfield. "The doctor in Cleveland told me he was gravely concerned Mr. Hammons might not survive while he was there."

Since taking over operational control of the company, KY3 reports Dowdy has, "Forced out Scott Tarwater, Hammons' longtime top assistant in the company. She also fired most of the company's architectural staff."

"We have a guardian in Jacquie Dowdy who is acting under color of law, and I believe should receive, and has received and will receive from me the presumption that she's acting in good faith and that she's acting lawfully," Kinder said.

John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts received a $3.7 million Tax Increment Finance District in 2007 on a peninsula property on the Grand Glaize Arm of Lake of the Ozarks for a 12-story, 320-room hotel. The company bought the property for what would be called, "Chateau on the Lake" on Dec. 12, 2006. After overcoming years of delays and legal wrangling with Four Seasons, Hammons announced his intentions to move forward with the project setting a target opening date of summer 2012. A ground breaking was to be held in early 2011 followed by 22 months of construction.

Pursuant to the succession plan long maintained by Hammons, Dowdy now controls the fate of the Lake of the Ozarks project.

Dowdy has worked for Hammons for about 30 years. She is the former executive vice president of finance for the company.

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