By Michelle Brooks
RUSSELLVILLE - He's likely the youngest member of the Mid-Mo Old Car Club. And he's certainly the first to receive the club's $1,000 scholarship.
Clayton White is in his third year at Linn State Technical College, earning two associate's degrees in design and drafting.
Looking ahead to a career, the Russellville High School graduate hopes to work in civil construction.
The downside to that is he likely will have to move away from Mid-Missouri and his hobby.
"We've had old cars as long as I can remember," White said.
His father Troy operated a muffler shop in Eldon, so the family built a reputation for fixing cars.
So in addition to working White's 1972 Chevrolet pick-up and his dad's 1963 Impala, the family shop often has a vehicle or two from friends and neighbors too.
White said he enjoys the end result of seeing a broken body fixed and repainted or rebuilt motor run again.
"I like being in the shop with my dad; those are memories I'm going to have forever," White said.
The White family, which includes mom Stacy, often buys old cars, sometimes to fix up and other times for parts.
Because it's a hobby, fixing cars likely will never become boring, White said.
When White's dad joined the Mid-Mo Old Car Club a few years ago, he did too.
But when Clayton left for Linn State, he missed the monthly meetings
"It's a great club," White said. "Everyone there is older; I like sitting around talking to them.
"They have a ton more experience than I have."