District Governor

Jimmy Standfast

Jimmy Standfast

Jim Standfast has been involved in many community activities in the Rolla area for many years. One of his hobbies involves his love of muscle cars and other vintage cars and trucks. As a member of the Route 66 Association of Missouri, he was invited to participate in a trip down part of the old Mother Road from Pacific to Lebanon. This is an annual event where many of the participants travel in their cherished and many times carefully restored rides. Jim anxiously attended his first trip with the association but was very disappointed when he realized the group rolled right through Rolla after a stop to eat at the Wagon Wheel in Cuba and then the Elbow Inn at Devils Elbow just east of Waynesville. When inquiring about the lack of any stops in Phelps County which includes St. James, Rolla and Doolittle, he was confronted with the fact that there were few remaining structures of interest in those communities that would be of interest to the group. Born of this realization came Jim’s idea for a Route 66 Museum. Route 66 enthusiasts come from many states and other countries to travel parts, or all, of the old highway from Chicago to California. Jim was disturbed about the fact that not only do those travelers miss an opportunity to experience what Phelps County has to offer and the importance the road had to the development of our county but we miss an opportunity to provide them with lodging, food, or fuel. So was born the idea of a Route 66 Museum of Phelps County. Jim then began the process of setting up a team and obtaining the necessary documents for a not-for- profit status. Nick Preston was an old friend from Rolla who had recently retired and was looking forward to a stress free and less busy life. In one of their discussions, Jim outlined his idea of starting a Museum in Phelps County. Having also been interested in the continued growth and development of Rolla and Phelps County throughout most of his professional career, Nick was somewhat hesitant but agreed to help Jim with a museum. A few weeks later Nick received a call from Jim who was happy to report that he had received a 501c3 designation for the Route 66 Museum of Phelps County and informed Nick that he was designated as Vice-President of the corporation. It is hard to tell Jim “no.”