20-year-old runs for alderman but eyes presidency

MARSHFIELD, Mo. -- Nicholas Inman has his sights set on being president of the United States someday.

"How better to change the world than have the highest office in the land?" the 20-year-old Marshfield man asks over his usual lunch of a bacon cheeseburger with extra pickles at Sheila's Place, a local restaurant.

First, though, he hopes to be elected to his city's board of aldermen in the spring.

When the 2000 Marshfield High School graduate made his candidacy official last month at City Hall, he became the youngest resident anyone could remember filing for that office.

"As far as I know, he's the youngest since I've been here," says Dan McMillan, city administrator since 1984.

The Ozarks Technical Community College student and part-time Wal-Mart greeter has been an active community volunteer for several years. In his short life, he's already:

Joined the Rotary Club -- and could be its youngest member.

Become vice president of Marshfield's Chamber of Commerce.

Started the Webster County Literacy Council.

Founded the Webster County Opry in Rogersville.

Published the now-defunct Fordland Times.

For nine years, profiled community residents for the Marshfield Mail. He hopes to finish a book of the stories by his 21st birthday in March.

Adopted a mile of Missouri A near City Hall in the Adopt-a-Highway program. The sign credits "Nicholas W. Inman and Friends" as caretakers of the span. The friends are mainly a dozen or so women his grandmother's age.

'Knows everybody'

He gets around, friends say.

"He knows practically everybody in town, everybody in Fordland, almost everybody in Rogersville," said Jan Gallagher, his next-door neighbor for the past 10 years.

At Sheila's Place, in a white designer shirt and brown loafers, Inman greets many of the customers and most of the staff by name. After all, he eats there at least weekly with "The Jewels," the group of older women that includes his grandmother, Joyce Inman.

He got acquainted with most of them at the Opry, where they've often sung with him. Now, they're some of his best friends.

"I just think they're adorable, and I've learned so much from them," he said.

He gives them rides to doctors' appointments, but they've also headed out to Branson, Nebraska and even Washington, D.C., where he and a friend whose son was killed in Vietnam drove for a meeting of Gold Star Mothers.

Inman's fascination with people and issues beyond his years took root when he was young and often in his grandmother's and great-grandmother's care while his mother, a single parent, was at work.

His best friend, Aaron McGrath, 20, said what stands out about Inman is his love for older people: "What other 20-year-old college student is going to take a carload of little old ladies, as he calls them, out to the movies?"

By junior high, Inman was gathering stories of senior Webster Countians and considering journalism as a career.

Teaching history is now his goal, yet the books he loves to read -- biographies and autobiographies -- also set him apart.

"I've had friends my age ask me who Gerald Ford is," he said.

Welcomed into race

His youthful presence is welcomed in April's race for alderman of the east ward.

"He'll put some life into it," said Bill Buesgen, owner of a local bed-and-breakfast. "He has proven to be a leader."

Even Inman's opponent, retired businessman Talt Greer, welcomes Inman's challenge.

With growth issues facing the town of about 5,400, the ward seat is "a lot of responsibility, but I don't see anything wrong with it," the 68-year-old Greer said of Inman's candidacy. "He'll be a tough competitor."

Inman just wants to make his part of the world a better place.

"I really believe you can change the world one person at a time," he said.