Columbia's first brewery owner dies, remembered as 'visionary' with love for city, people

Stephen "Steve" Porter, 72, Columbia business man and pharmacologist, died after a long hospitalization due to a lung-related illness on Saturday.

The Columbia business community, friends and family are grieving the loss of Porter, who some call a "visionary," who loved his community and family.

Porter, co-owner of Asgard Brewing Co. & Taproom, opened the successful business in 2016 with his son and co-owner John Porter. The taproom and brewery quickly became a popular, lively spot in downtown Columbia as well as the city's first brewery.

A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. on Feb. 19 at Heritage Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

A Columbia, Missouri native, Porter moved to Columbia, Tennessee several years ago before the development boom, but always envisioned what the city could and eventually would become as the fastest growing county in Tennessee.

Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles said Porter's death is a big loss for the community of Columbia.

"Steve was a dear friend and his passing is a huge loss to me and our community. As an entrepreneur, Steve was a visionary who's business was part of the economic boom that Columbia has experienced," Ogles said. "He will be greatly missed."

Started brewing trend in Columbia

Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder said Porter was the kind of citizen — engaged and informed — every city needs.

"Stephen Porter was one of those people you are lucky to have in the community because he asked pertinent questions," Molder said. "We didn't always agree, but we knew we were in it for the same reasons. I always had a lot of respect for him."

Molder said Porter was instrumental in helping to put Columbia and southern Middle Tennessee on the map regarding the brewing industry.

"At the time, what he was doing with Asgard was unheard of in Columbia. It was the first of its kind. He took a big risk in Columbia, and it paid off. Now our community has a niche for these things, and Asgard started the trend."

Wil Evans, CEO of the Maury County Chamber and Economic Alliance, said he was "shocked and saddened" to hear of Porter's passing. He reflected on early conversations with Porter about his plans to bring Asgard to the community.

"We were really excited to see the idea come to fruition and see it become a success," Evans said. "I give a lot of credit to Steve Porter for accomplishing his vision, which benefits Columbia as a whole."

The brewery posted a tribute to the proud Columbia resident and outspoken business man on Sunday.

"Asgard Brewing Co. & Taproom exists because of the legend, Stephen 'Doc' Porter," the post reads.

"This man was a visionary, an entrepreneur, a father, a husband, a leader, a buddy, a boss but most of all, he loved people & was accepting of every single one of them."

Asgard Brewing set the stage for the growth of the industry in the area.

"We have jobs because of this man," the post said. "He literally spent every moment he was awake, looking to build the great city of Columbia. He was proud of what this town was & he saw what it COULD & WILL be.

"You see it now, he saw it first."

Feels like family

The brewery will continue to build upon the dreams of "Doc Porter," according to the post.

"My friend and I used to walk by and say we’d buy the place when it was a vacant run-down spot, but then comes Asgard," Columbia councilman Danny Coleman said. "If you can’t beat them join them. It’s a big part of my involvement in the community. I’ve met so many people. It felt like family out there."

In 2015, the dream of Asgard began when the founding father and son duo had a glass of beer in the historic Michigan Brewery Frankenmuth, a destination the pair frequented over the years. After contacting a friend in the brewing business, John Porter with his knowledge of beer and branding, coupled with Steve Porter's knowledge of business, set out to to make Asgard a reality.

Asgard Brewing Co.'s name pays homage to the history and culture of its founder’s Nordic ancestors and legends associated with Viking culture.

Public interest grew almost immediately and within months of opening, Asgard was accepting invitations to attend tastings, charity events and festivals.

The establishment operates through a "farm-to-barrel initiative," according to its website, sourcing local ingredients such as hops from Summertown, Tennessee and honey from Middle Tennessee.

On Sunday, Asgard sold Porter's favorite beer "The Voyager" for $1, placing a glass above the bar for Porter.

Medical background, voice during pandemic

Before opening the brewery, Porter excelled in an extensive career in research and pharmacology, obtaining his PharmD degree from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 1976. In 2005, he launched Pharmacotherapy Consultants, LLC in Brentwood, serving as president. In the mid-nineties, he served as a Director of Clinical Research and Development for Therapeutic Antibodies Inc. based in Nashville. With his company Pharmacotherapy Consultants and MPI Pharmacological Research, he flew to China 88 times and worked directly with the Wuhan Institute of Virology, and VRL laboratories.

One of Porter's most significant accomplishments was heading the clinical trial team for the antivenom, CroFab® Crotalidae Polyvalent Immune Fab, a trademarked antidote that is currently used as the sole remedy in North America to stop the would-be fatal effects of a rattle snake bite. Under Therapeutic Antibodies, Porter was involved in writing the submission application for the antivenom to be adopted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which was approved by the FDA in 2000.

Porter spent his professional life directing scientific research in labs that devised medical therapies and studied antibodies and vaccines.

During the pandemic, Porter served as an advocate for the early treatment of COVID-19 through various therapeutics. Porter spoke before multiple civic organizations, legislators, and private groups about research in early therapeutics in addition to supporting the COVID-19 vaccine for those at-risk.

As a business owner, Porter participated in community events such as First Fridays, Columbia's first Oktoberfest hosted by Asgard and helped with the organization of Mulefest last year after the cancellation of Mule Day. The brewery has won Best of Maury Awards for the "Best Place to Buy Beer." He was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Columbia and belonged to several professional pharmacology associations throughout his adult life.

Memorial service next Saturday

A memorial service will be held Feb. 19 at 1 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home with Brian Henderson officiating. The visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to one's favorite charity in Porter's name.

He loved beer, cars, cats, Camp Michigania and Hallmark movies, his obituary says.

Porter is survived by his wife, Kathryn “Katy” Rahmel Porter, son, John Kyle Porter, sister in law and many extended family members.

Son John Porter posted on social media about his father's memorable qualities and the impact he had on his life.

"Stephen Porter I cannot begin to express how big of an inspiration you were to me and those around, you were wise beyond your years. I often found myself amazed in the ways you could approach people, walking up to a simple fisherman and in moments you were in a full blown conversations about nuclear energy." Porter said.

"The amount of lives you touched and the sheer knowledge you had about every place you visited continues to astound me."

"I may act brave, I may act strong, but that’s because I always knew I had you in my corner ... ."

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Community business owner remembered as visionary with love for people, city