For Chuck and Angie Marshall and Rusty and Stephanie Rice, success has always been about more than serving meals. It's about creating opportunities for employees, supporting local communities and building restaurants that feel like a neighborhood gathering place.
That commitment recently earned the Sedalia-based McDonald's owner/operators one of the company's most prestigious distinctions: the 2026 Fred L. Turner Golden Arch Award.
The honor was presented during the 2026 McDonald's Worldwide Convention in Las Vegas, where franchisees from around the world gathered to celebrate excellence in leadership, operations, customer service and community engagement.
Named for Fred L. Turner, one of McDonald's most influential leaders, the Golden Arch Award is widely regarded as the highest recognition available to McDonald's franchisees.
Since the award was established in 1978, only about one percent of franchisees worldwide have received it. This year, just 40 owner/operators from across the globe were selected.
For the Marshall-Rice organization, the recognition reflects decades of dedication to the communities they serve throughout Missouri.
"Our family has always believed that our restaurants should be places where people feel welcome and valued, whether they're guests, employees, or community partners," Chuck Marshall says. "We're incredibly honored to receive this award, and we're grateful to our restaurant teams whose hard work and commitment made this achievement possible."
The Golden Arch Award recognizes franchisees who consistently excel in customer service, restaurant operations, employee experience and community involvement while serving as ambassadors for the McDonald's brand.
A family legacy rooted in community
Those qualities have long defined the Marshall-Rice organization.
Across their restaurants, the family has invested in employee development and leadership opportunities while supporting local schools, youth programs, charitable organizations and community initiatives. Their restaurants have become familiar gathering places where relationships are built alongside careers.
The award also represents the continuation of a family legacy that began more than three decades ago.
The Marshall family's McDonald's journey started in 1992 when Carolyn Marshall and the late Charles Marshall entered the McDonald's system with a vision of building a family business centered on opportunity, service and community involvement.
The family opened its first restaurant in 1994 and established roots in Sedalia in 1995. Today, that vision continues through the leadership of second-generation owner/operators Chuck and Angie Marshall and Rusty and Stephanie Rice, who operate 23 McDonald's restaurants across Missouri and neighboring communities.
As part of the recognition, the Marshall-Rice family was honored during a special Golden Arch Awards Gala and recognized before thousands of McDonald's leaders and franchisees during the convention's Global General Session.
Feeding a vision for the future
While the award celebrates operational excellence, family members say its true meaning lies closer to home.
"Receiving this recognition is especially meaningful because it reflects the dedication of our employees and the support of the communities we serve every day," Marshall says. "We're proud of what we've built together and excited to continue creating opportunities and making a positive impact for years to come."
For the Marshall-Rice family, the Golden Arch Award serves as both a milestone and a reminder of the values that have guided the organization for more than 30 years: investing in people, serving communities and striving for excellence every day.
