Bob Barker becomes member of Hall of Famous Missourians

Barker was inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians on Wednesday.

Photo: Bob Barker becomes member of Hall of Famous Missourians

Barker, 83, is the 30th inductee, joining luminaries such as Mark Twain, Walt Disney, Walter Cronkite, Scott Joplin and Charlie Parker.

"I did `The Price Is Right' for 35 years, and they're asking me how it was to beat up Adam Sandler," joked Barker, referring to his cameo in Sandler's 1996 comedy, "Happy Gilmore."

Barker was born in Washington state and raised on a South Dakota Indian reservation before moving to Missouri.

In 1972, he took over "The Price Is Right." Barker retired from the game show earlier this year.

House Speaker Rod Jetton recalled a childhood watching Barker on television.

"Women loved him," he said. "He was always smooth, he was always friendly. ... He entertained all of us in America for years."

Jetton also complimented Barker for his political skills in staying "on message" - in this case, his signature signoff urging viewers to spay and neuter their household pets.