Awards by Hammond: A Legacy of Craftsmanship and Growth
Every award tells a story—and so does Awards by Hammond. From humble beginnings in the mid-20th century to becoming one of Minnesota’s leading providers of custom trophies, plaques, and recognition products, our journey has been defined by innovation, dedication, and a passion for excellence.
Where It All Began: The 1950s
In 1950, George Hammond owned a popular bowling alley named OxFord Lanes, located on Selby Avenue in Saint Paul. To supply trophies and awards for his bowling leagues, George began creating awards in a small building adjacent to the lanes, which also housed his gift, jewelry, and promotions business called Hammond Distributing.
What started as a simple need quickly grew into a thriving business. As the awards division expanded, it moved to a former grocery store at University Avenue and Avon Street, and in 1967, it was renamed Hammond Quality Sales.
Growth and Expansion
By 1972, George purchased an adjacent drug store to expand operations, adding bowling supplies and ball drilling services to the mix. In 1979, the company made another big move, purchasing a 52,000 sq. ft. building on University Avenue, occupying 9,000 sq. ft. and renaming the business Hammond Quality Awards.
A New Generation and a New Vision
In 1989, George’s son Scott took over the business, introducing a bold new vision. He discontinued bowling equipment sales to focus entirely on the awards division, renaming the company Awards by Hammond—a name that reflected the elegance and quality customers had come to expect.
Scott reinvested into an exclusive color catalog, modern showroom displays, high-tech equipment, and new signage. That dedication paid off—the company flourished for many years as a leader in the recognition industry.
After decades of success, Scott decided to retire and in 2022 sold the company to Mark Nosbush, Grant Nosbush, and Wayne Beaman—continuing the tradition of quality and customer commitment.
Mergers and Modernization
After the sale, Awards by Hammond entered a new era of growth. We proudly merged with two respected Minnesota trophy makers:
🏆 Valley Trophy (Stillwater, MN)
🏆 Ed’s Trophy (Newport, MN)
These acquisitions brought decades of combined expertise under one roof, enhancing our capabilities and service offerings.
To further improve customer experience, we’ve expanded our Maplewood showroom and relocated all operations to the first floor of our building, making it easier than ever for customers to visit and pick up their orders with convenient parking access.
Online Convenience, Same Quality Service
We know our customers value convenience. That’s why we’re working hard to make our website more user-friendly, redesigning our online ordering system, and providing tools for you to design trophies, awards, and recognition products anytime, from anywhere.
Check out the latest updates and start your order at awardsgalore.com