In August, two men plan to drive the 2,400-mile length of Route 66 in a restored 1973 Chrysler New Yorker in tribute to the car's late owner. The road trip by Markku Jaakkola and Jacob Gilbert will be part of an Official Route 66 Centennial event. Jaakkola, a Finnish‑born automotive storyteller and quality engineer, wrote … Continue reading Restored 1973 Chrysler New Yorker will be driven on Route 66 in tribute to its late owner
Category: People
Michael Wallis among those to be inducted into Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame
Michael Wallis, best known for his bestselling "Route 66: The Mother Road," will be inducted this spring with a Lifetime Achievement Award into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame. The induction will start at 11:30 a.m. on May 14 in the grand ballroom of the Nigh University Center at the University of Central Oklahoma in … Continue reading Michael Wallis among those to be inducted into Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame
Andrea Pruett, longtime owner of Bagdad Cafe, dies at 85
Andrea Pruett, the longtime owner of the landmark Bagdad Cafe along Route 66 in Newberry Springs, California, died on Jan. 13. She was 85. Mead Mortuary in nearby Barstow, California, is handling arrangements, which are incomplete at this time. Many veteran Route 66 travelers have written tributes to her on social media. Her grandson, Greg … Continue reading Andrea Pruett, longtime owner of Bagdad Cafe, dies at 85
Angel Delgadillo publishes his memoirs
Angel Delgadillo, known as the "Guardian Angel of Route 66," announced he had completed his memoirs and is selling copies of the book from his gift shop in Seligman, Arizona. Delgadillo, who is just a few months from his 99th birthday, announced the new book in a social media post and video on New Year's … Continue reading Angel Delgadillo publishes his memoirs
Rhys Martin named Tulsan of the Year by TulsaPeople Magazine
Rhys Martin, president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, manager of the Preserve Route 66 Initiative and a member of numerous other Route 66 groups, earned the annual Tulsan of the Year honor by TulsaPeople Magazine. The magazine chose Martin because of his years of advocacy for Route 66 -- especially with its centennial starting … Continue reading Rhys Martin named Tulsan of the Year by TulsaPeople Magazine
AgDaily publishes extensive feature about Texas Route 66 advocate Delbert Trew
AgDaily.com, a fast-rising digital publication that focuses on U.S. agriculture, recently published an excellent feature about Delbert Trew, a longtime advocate and historian of Texas Route 66 and the Panhandle in general. Brady Wilson, a prominent officer for the Texas Old Route 66 Association, wrote the article. Many Route 66 advocates are familiar with Trew, … Continue reading AgDaily publishes extensive feature about Texas Route 66 advocate Delbert Trew
Ken Turmel, known for his PostmarkArt, dies at 69
Ken Turmel, a Route 66 enthusiast best known for his "PostmarkArt" featuring postmarks from dozens out outposts, died Tuesday. He was 69. Turmel, a longtime Oklahoma City resident, had just completed treatments for throat cancer, according to his wife of 30 years, Melissa, and several friends. According to his website, Turmel was born in Santa … Continue reading Ken Turmel, known for his PostmarkArt, dies at 69
American Giants Museum changes owners
The American Giants Museum along old Route 66 in Atlanta, Illinois, recently landed a new owner. The museum stated in a Facebook post that Lee Woods of Hot Springs, Arkansas, purchased the property. As Woods' Facebook account shows, he's an aficionado of Muffler Men. More from the museum's post: Moving forward, Joel Baker and American … Continue reading American Giants Museum changes owners
Route 66 Centennial Speaker Series to begin next month
Research Route 66 will kick off a Route 66 Centennial Speaker Series in January, when the first guest is David Dunaway, talking about "The Hidden Voices of Route 66." Throughout the series, participants will hear about diverse topics that highlight Route 66’s impact and legacy. Sessions will cover the history of foodways along the road, … Continue reading Route 66 Centennial Speaker Series to begin next month
Frank and Lynne Kocevar’s video Christmas card for 2025
In what has become a tradition at Route 66 News, here is the latest edition of Frank and Lynne Kocevar's annual video Christmas card. They've been doing this for 16 years running. Scenes and a cast of characters in this year's video come from Williams, Flagstaff, Prescott and Yuma in Arizona. https://vimeo.com/1146274466?fl=ip&fe=ec The Kocevars were … Continue reading Frank and Lynne Kocevar’s video Christmas card for 2025