Surrounded as he is by Elvis Presley memorabilia and music, there is little chance Clarence Skurat will be lonesome tonight.

Skurat is curator of the Elvis Museum, which, like the "Heart-break Hotel" Presley made famous, is located on a lonely street - only this lonely street is in Woodlawn, population 638.

The King has been immortalized everywhere from his Mississippi birthplace in Tupelo to Tennessee, site of his beloved Graceland, so why not Woodlawn?

Especially since the rural Jefferson County town is home to Skurat, 56, a devoted Elvis fan.

"I guess I was about 7 years old when I first heard Elvis Presley. I started collecting then and have ever since - all my life," he said.

"It started out small and then grew into something big. I don't drink and I don't smoke, so I spend my money on this. People said instead of having all of it packed away, I should start sharing it with the public."

Skurat opened the museum about three years ago. Immaculately kept and in an orderly display, the collectibles range from the sublime to the surreal.

There's the life-size statue of Elvis, which captures the rock and roll icon in all his hip-shaking glory. Or the golden bust made of more than 160 layers of cardboard. Under glass is Elvis' third-grade report card. FYI, he got all Es, for excellent, that is.

The museum library has all 30 TV Guide magazines that featured Elvis on their covers, as well as books, magazines and a copy of Elvis' last will and testament and Graceland inventory.

There's an all-Elvis Christmas tree and a stick candy - still in its original packaging - that if split spills out letters to form the words, "king of rock and roll."

There are cookie jars, board games like Elvisopoly, whiskey decanters, classic paper doll books, even a paycheck from Elvias' pre-king status when he made $30 a week at Precision Tool in Memphis, Tenn.

The museum contains more than 1,000 items with a total value Skurat places at somewhere near $80,000.

"I just like Elvis. Even after he was rich and famous, he stayed the same. He didn't let it go to his head. He even went to war when he could have gotten out it," he said. "And he was always giving away stuff, especially Cadillacs. He loved giving away Caddies."

In his off-Elvis hours, Skurat is the head of maintenance at Woodlawn Grade School, where he has tried to introduce Elvis to the students. He holds an annual coloring contest and awards trophies to the top three colorers.

And like Elvis, Skurat wants to be able to help people in need.

"With the donations I get, I want to use some of that money to buy Christmas gifts for people who don't have much," he said. "Christmas was Elvis' favorite time of year and mine, too."

His museum draws visitors from all over the country.

"People learn about it mostly by word-of-mouth. I've had people from California, Oregon, Indiana, all over," he said.

As his school starts spring break today, Skurat will be on the hunt for more Elvis memorabilia at flea markets, antique malls and yard sales.

"When I'm not working, I'm hunting," he laughed. "And as long as I'm able, I'll continue."

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