Born into poverty in the rural Missouri Ozarks shortly after the end of the Civil War, John T. Woodruff (1868-1949) became the greatest promoter of civic and regional development in the history of Springfield, Missouri. Schools, colleges, hospitals, hotels, and resorts all owed their existence and location to Woodruff's clear vision and indefatigable efforts. The Woodruff Building and the Kentwood Arms Hotel are two of his outstanding architectural...