Justus For The Missouri 62nd

Being born in Southwest Missouri and reared in Branson, I learned early the importance of hard work to assure your future and dedication to your family and community.  To press home this point, as a child, I mowed lawns and washed storefront windows in downtown Branson. First Presbyterian of Branson, the church in which I was baptized, formed my  religious foundation.  As a youth, serving God and my church family was important to me.  This I demonstrated as president of the Presbyterian Youth Fellowship while still in high school, teaching Sunday School after college, and holding the offices of deacon and elder as an adult.  To this day, I consider First Presbyterian my church home and volunteer my services as a member and an elder of the church.After attending elementary and secondary schools in Branson, I graduated from high school in 1972.  Then it was off to Austin College in Sherman, Texas  where, in 1976,  I graduated with a degree in Business Administration.

After bicycling across the United States in the summer of 1976, I applied my newfound knowledge in the Branson family business, L&J Plumbing Supply.  In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, in addition to my duties at L&J, I also managed a family-owned mini-mall in downtown Branson.

My  involvement in the Branson business community began with the Branson Betterment Association.  One of the many accomplishments of this group  was to provide a voice for small businesses and residents of the city.  When local government tried to overburden citizens and small business owners  with exorbitant fees to fund expansion of the water and sewage plants for Branson, this organization, in conjunction with the city council, developed a fair and equitable solution.

Since those first experiences with community involvement groups, I have continued my active role with fervor.  I am a member and past president of the Branson-Hollister Rotary Club and have served on the Branson Chamber of Commerce Board and the Branson Executive Chamber Board.  As  chairman of the Small Business Advisory Council and the Membership and Funding Council, I have seen first hand what can be done with a combination of  cooperation and volunteerism.  Currently I am serving both on the Table Rock Chamber board and the Executive Board as their chairman.

Other benevolent groups of which I have played a role have made major impacts in the Branson area.  Presently, I am the acting President of the Downtown Branson Main Street Association (a certified national and Missouri Main Street community), and am president of the Historic Branson Community Improvement District which funds and operates the trolleys in the downtown historic district.

As a youth involved in Boy Scouts of America, I witnessed the impact this organization has on young men.  To that end, I have been and am still active  with a local troop in the Branson area.  Some of the awards I received for this work are the  District Award of Merit and the Golden Sun Award.  Because of my participation in Boy Scouts, I was appointed by the Mayor of Branson to serve on the Branson Advisory Park Board in which capacity I am now vice-president.   As a member of the Ozark Mountain Nature Trail Association, I am able to promote the development of hiking and biking trails in this area.  All of these endeavors enhance the outdoor atmosphere of the Ozarks and southwest Missouri. 

Through personal and business achievement, other awards have been bestowed upon me.  Some are: Branson Area Small Business of the Year, and The Mary Award for service to the community.

The family business that was established in 1951 continues to grow because of the hard work ethic that was instilled in me by my father.  In December, 1997, L & J Plumbing Supply expanded into Stone County when we opened a branch there.  More recently, the Justus, Meek, and Loyd families developed the Highroad Plaza Industrial Park north of Branson where our new operation now resides.

Throughout my life, I have dedicated myself to my family and my community, not just through dollars, but by giving of myself to people, projects,  and causes that are deserving of my time and effort.