ST. JAMES – The St. James Chamber of Commerce presented its annual awards during a dinner March 7 at Spencer Manor Winery. The Chamber gave out eight awards to the people, businesses and organizations that have helped support the St. James community this past year. 

Chamber Director Kelly Money praised the town’s growth in her opening speech, saying that businesses and job opportunities are booming and downtown has continued to be revitalized.

“People are spending their money in person, in town here,” Money said. “It’s not accidental. This is the compound effect – daily discipline, businesses opening their doors every morning, people volunteering, leaders making decisions, sponsors writing checks and citizens showing up. We are trending in the right direction.”

Lifetime Achievement Award

The Chamber recognized Bill Kirgan for the Lifetime Achievement Award, which is the highest honor the Chamber presents. The award is given to a community member who has dedicated their life to the St. James community through leadership, commitment and generosity.

Kirgan is the president of the Conservation Federation of Missouri and a member of St. James’ Forestry Board. He’s served as Chamber president, mayor pro tempore and on both the city council and school board. But beyond these positions, the Chamber recognized him for a lifetime of giving back.

“Time after time, if there is a cause that needs support, he shows up, often quietly, often behind the scenes,” Chamber President Kelsey Davis said. “He hears of a need, and he responds.”

When the devastating EF5 tornado struck Joplin in 2011, Kirgan helped feed those in crisis. He also donates his time by cooking for the library, Phelps Health Foundation and for other organizations throughout the region.

In 1991, Kirgan helped to construct the downtown building that now houses the State Farm office. He built his career as a farmer’s insurance agent and has raised two children with his wife, Mary Ellen.

“His family carries a long history of community involvement, and that legacy continues in the next generation,” Davis said. “For those who have worked beside him, learned from him or benefited from his generosity, we are better because of his example.”

Kirgan was unable to attend the dinner to accept his award due to Conservation Federation of Missouri commitments, but sent in a video acceptance thanking the Chamber for the recognition. He said that he hopes his work isn’t done and is looking forward to many more years of being a good citizen in St. James.

Business of the Year

Business of the Year was presented to Sybill’s Restaurant and Gift Shop, which since 2006 has been owned and operated by Tom and Janet Scheffer and their daughter, Sybill Scheffer.

“From the very beginning, this business set a standard – exceptional cuisine, impeccable service and an atmosphere that feels both refined and welcoming,” Davis said. “Quite simply, this is not just a restaurant, it’s a destination. People travel from across the region with one plan in mind: a seat at the table. They have become one of the primary reasons people visit St James. That kind of economic and cultural impact cannot be overstated.”

Davis praised the Scheffers for the risk they took in opening an upscale dining experience in small town Missouri. She said it required courage and a belief in what St. James would become.

In the past year, the Scheffers expanded their vision for Sybill’s when they turned their farmhouse gift shop into a full retail experience. They also opened a third building: a bakery offering pastries, treats and specialty items with an outdoor patio.

“But bricks and mortar are only part of the story,” Davis said. “In an industry known for turnover and challenges, this establishment truly stands apart. When you see the same team members year after year, you recognize something great. That kind of loyalty speaks volumes.”

Davis recognized the Scheffers for their hospitality and the welcoming environment they’ve created for guests and employees alike, creating a standard of excellence in St. James.

“They did not wait for our town to become something great,” Davis said. “They helped make it great.”

Citizen of the Year

Nancy Montgomery was awarded Citizen of the Year for her work as Executive Director at the St. James Caring Center. This recognition is given to an individual who has shown outstanding support for the community in the past year.

Davis praised Montgomery for her leadership and dedication to transforming the St. James Caring Center into a beacon of hope for the community, noting that she’s helped it to become financially solid and sustainable.

In addition to the thrift store, the Caring Center also offers a variety of services to the community, including a food pantry, utility help, rent assistance, gas vouchers and more. The center also hosts Commodity Day, serving upwards of 250 families monthly with healthy food, personal care and cleaning products.

“(She) leads with a rare mix of strategy and genuine compassion, known for her determination, her heart of gold and ability to manage people and challenges with equal skills,” Davis said.

Under Montgomery’s leadership, the center has expanded its recycling initiatives and outreach programs to better meet the needs of the town. It has also created partnerships throughout the region in order to bring in more resources.

One of these partnerships has been with a recycling company in St. Louis, which resulted in donations of boots that have been distributed to schools in St. James, Cuba, Steelville and Newburg.

Under her direction, the center now also provides access to seniors for weekly chair yoga classes, monthly chair massage sessions and foot care from a registered nurse, improving both the health and wellness of the town’s older population.

“She has a pulse on the needs of this community, and responds with compassion, efficiency and unwavering dedication,” Davis said. “If there is a need, she works diligently to meet it, not for recognition, but because she genuinely cares. She is a leader. She is an advocate. She is a servant to this community. Her work has touched countless lives, and her impact will have been felt for years to come.”

Public Servant of the Year

Terrill Story was recognized as Public Servant of the Year. This award is presented to an individual who represents the very best of what it means to lift up the community and invest in its future.

Story is an art teacher at St. James High School, and Davis praised him for his contributions both inside and outside the classroom.

After the tragic school bus accident that killed two St. James students in 2010, Story served as an additional counselor to help students cope with grief. What he saw during this time was a need for a safe, uplifting place where students could find purpose. The idea for Firehouse Coffee Shop was born.

Less than a year after the accident, renovations began to transform the abandoned St. James Firehouse into a coffee shop. Thanks to $20,000 in grant money from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, discounted materials through the Lowe’s Hero’s Award and lots of community volunteers, the idea became a reality.

The Firehouse Coffee Shop is now run entirely by students who volunteer their time. On any given day after school, the shop is packed with students. After the accident, it became a place for them to heal, connect and find joy. 

“(Story) is there with them every step of the way, guiding and encouraging,” Davis said. “The kids are there not because they have to be – many of them volunteer there simply because they love being a part of it.”

The coffee shop is a nonprofit effort, with all proceeds going back into the community to support local causes and student organizations.

“It’s a place that gives twice – once to the kids who learn and grow inside of it, and once to the community that receives the proceeds of their hard work,” Davis said. “What stands out most is that this person never seeks recognition or attention for what they do, simply showing up every day, year after year, believing in our youth and giving them a place where they feel capable, valued and connected.”

Organization of the Year

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of South Central Missouri was named Organization of the Year for the impact they have made in supporting children who have experienced abuse and neglect.

CASA volunteers are trained to work one-on-one with children in foster care and are appointed by a judge to represent a child’s best interests. These volunteers act as the voice of the child both in court and in their daily life.

“They get to know the child, they listen, they gather information from everyone involved,” Davis said. “They track services and appointments. They ensure needs are not overlooked, and they provide thoughtful, child-focused recommendations so judges can make informed decisions. This is not symbolic work. It’s substantive, and it’s life altering.”

Davis noted that in the three month period between October and December of last year, CASA has supported 206 cases in Phelps County alone.

“Those are not statistics,” Davis said. “Those are children in our region, in our schools, in our neighborhoods. This organization is made up of ordinary people stepping forward to change the story for a child, one case at a time.”

She also commended the program for its strong leadership despite the challenges related to fluctuating funding and uncertain budgets. 

“They have ensured that advocacy does not pause when funding shifts,” Davis said. “They have worked diligently to keep the message in front of the community that children in care need champions.”

Future Leader Award

The Future Leader Award was presented to senior Johnny Perkins. This award recognizes a St. James High School student for their academic and personal efforts to model the values of a future leader.

Perkins is the senior class president and serves in student council and the principal’s roundtable student committee. He’s a member of FBLA, Beta, Teens for Jesus, National Student Honor Society and FCCLA, all while balancing a full athletic schedule of cross country, track and basketball.

Outside of school organizations, he serves as a member of the Missouri Youth Fellowship Team and has been named a semifinalist for the National Coca Cola Scholarship.

He maintains a 3.9 GPA and has achieved a 97 percent attendance rate throughout high school.

“But leadership is not measured by resume alone,” Davis noted. “When our community needed someone to step up on very short notice to emcee the 93rd Grape and Fall Festival, there was no hesitation. He single handedly carried the flow of the event with confidence, professionalism and composure well beyond his years.” 

Davis applauded Perkins for serving as a positive role model to his peers, carrying himself with respect and representing a bright future for the community.

“He brings an exuberance for life that is contagious,” Davis said. 

Volunteer of the Year

John Money was awarded Volunteer of the Year for the work he has done to give back to the St. James community. This award is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the Chamber through service in the past year.

Money was commended for the “many different hats” he wears. He’s worked behind the scenes at countless Chamber events. He’s installed signs, dug posts into the ground, built tables, driven a beverage cart, and even been a “one man moving company,” according to Davis.

“From emptying out a 10 passenger van of seats so we could store pallets and pallets of Sip ‘N Savor glasses to cleaning out the side by side so it’s ready to roll as a beverage cart and transportation unit during the three busy days of Grape and Fall Festival, to custom making wine barrel tables that elevate the look of our pavilion, wine and beer garden – he does the things nobody sees but everyone benefits from,” Davis said.

Davis praised Money for his servant’s heart, saying that after long weekends of volunteering his time at Chamber events, he returns to his corporate job at Phelps Health while also working on the farm he lives on with his wife and two sons.

“He never asks for recognition, he just simply shows up, gets it done, and he does it with heart,” Davis said.

Community Impact Award

The Chamber gave out a special recognition award to Phelps Health for its impact on the community. Phelps Health was nominated for Business of the Year, but as Chamber members reviewed nominations, they felt it deserved a class of its own.

“As one of the largest employers in our area, this rural health care system does more than provide medical services,” Davis said. “It fuels livelihoods, supports families and strengthens the economic backbone of our region.”

Since 2021, Phelps Health has invested $23.5 million in employee compensation, including a 32 percent increase in pay. Davis noted the ripple effect this has had on the community. It has been recognized by Forbes as one of Missouri’s best workplaces.

They rank in the top five nationally for outpatient joint replacement, have expanded their weight loss and bariatric services and secured over $9 million in funding to enhance emergency department and EMS services.

Phelps Health team members volunteer for three days at the Grape and Fall Festival, supply first aid to community events, helped with opening day at Maramec Spring Park, worked gates at Sip ‘N Savor, hosted Commerce and Cocktails and support the Veteran’s Warriors Walk. 

“They do not simply serve St. James,” Davis said. “They invest in it. They collaborate and grow alongside.”

The evening was one of success and celebration as awards were accepted in front of a full house. Small business consultant Tom Prindiville shared insights as the guest speaker and applauded St. James for its economic growth. 

A three carat emerald necklace from Kent Jewelry valued at over $3,700 and seven framed photos of Maramec Spring Park were raffled off during the event. All proceeds will support this year’s fireworks show, which the Chamber is aiming to make bigger and better in celebration of its 250th anniversary.