Every parent has quirks. When we venture out on family road trips, I don’t check for the kids’ toothbrushes or swim goggles. The only required item in their carry-on is a biography.
The life stories of exceptional people provide a deeper glimpse into a place than do monuments or gift shops. Over the past two years, our daughter read the story of Pocahontas for our excursion to Williamsburg and about the life of Frank Baum over the interminable trek across Kansas.
Springfield proudly touts itself as The Birthplace of Route 66, complete with a festival and an Ozark Mountain Daredevils concert. Last year, more than 10,000 people from 28 foreign countries and 29 states visited the History Museum’s six-month Mother Road exhibit.
It prompted the thought of what biographies I would recommend to represent the best of both the Main Street of America and the Queen City. Out of many deserving candidates, John T. Woodruff and Red Chaney would make the book bag.
Woodruff was an attorney by trade. In his work for the Frisco railroad, Woodruff was responsible for the development of the Frisco shops in Springfield just north of Commercial Street. But he played a much larger role in the transportation industry and the community. He is best known as the “godfather of Ozarks highways” and the co-founder of Route 66.
Woodruff was instrumental in the U.S. Federal Medical Center coming to Springfield, establishing the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds and securing the site for Missouri State University, then the Springfield Normal School. He built the Sansone, Colonial and Kentwood Arms hotels and Hickory Hills Country Club.
Through his advocacy for Springfield at the heart of an integrated network of transportation systems, the city launched into its fastest-growing era. Woodruff proves championing a big vision and building coalitions to make them a reality can leave an enduring legacy.
In the heyday of Route 66, red-haired Sheldon “Red” Chaney came to Springfield after World War II with his bride and a new business degree. He purchased a Chestnut Expressway gas station, just west of College Street, with several motor court cabins and then added a cafe in 1947.
He intended to call his business Red’s Giant Hamburger, but he was just a little bit off on measuring for his new T-shaped sign. The city’s electric lines were draped over the property and officials refused to raise them. So he simply had the bottom of the metal sign cut off. A business legend was created with the removal of those last two letters.
He and his wife, Julia, operated the restaurant for 37 years.
Red Chaney is credited with creating the world’s first drive-through restaurant. He jitterbugged. He designed the interior in “picnic colors” and personalized orders by writing the customer’s name in mustard on the open face of the burger.
In short, Chaney created a memorable and fun experience for everyone in his presence. I had the pleasure of getting to know him after he retired and came in Consumers Market, where I worked my way through Drury University. Red’s had been closed nearly a decade, and Chaney still was beloved as a Springfield icon.
Transportation and tourism remain vital industries to Springfield. Funding necessary capital projects for roads and bridges will continue to be a major challenge in a climate of reduced federal spending and increased fuel efficiencies, which lowers fuel tax collections.
Missouri was recognized as the Best Trails State by American Trails in 2013, yet too many gaps remain in Springfield’s system to be fully utilized by commuters and for recreation. The new bus transfer station at College and Main – scheduled to begin construction next year – will be a $5 million milestone, but it will still face a stiff cultural hill to climb to broaden ridership.
Springfield needs to continue to cultivate civic champions to see and shape the big picture and entrepreneurial businesspeople to create exceptional experiences.
Route 66 can be more than a trip down memory lane. Its leaders can be a roadmap for new economic development by learning from their adventures.
Rusty Worley, executive director of Urban Districts Alliance, can be reached at rusty@itsalldowntown.com.
