This article from Express Hospitality describes how Asian-Americans -- many of them with the Patel surname -- have become dominant players in the United States lodging industry in just a few decades. They overcame language barriers, culture differences, hurdles from banks and insurers, and old-fashioned bigotry. Now, Asian-Americans control more than 50 percent of America's … Continue reading The rise of the Patels
Category: People
Founder of famed Albuquerque restaurant dies
Pete Powdrell, founder of Mr. Powdrell's Barbecue, which has a longtime location on Central Avenue, aka Route 66, died on Sunday at age 86, according to the Albuquerque Tribune. He started the restaurant in 1962 just a few years after moving to Albuquerque from Texas. He used his grandfather's secret recipes, and it's been consistently … Continue reading Founder of famed Albuquerque restaurant dies
Michael Wallis news
I met up with author Michael Wallis and a few other longtime roadies for lunch Friday at Ollie's Station in Tulsa. Wallis had a few interesting announcements to make: His book "Billy the Kid: The Endless Ride" has been optioned for a film. It will star Haley Joel Osment, who is famed for his child … Continue reading Michael Wallis news
Square dancing on 66
The Ozark Whirlers is a square-dance club that has been based in Eldon, Mo., for 52 years, and the group still meets for dances at least twice a month, according to a feature article in the Lake Sun Leader of Camdenton, Mo. Many members are in their 70s. And the dancers must have had some … Continue reading Square dancing on 66
Putting back the neon
Dwayne of New Zealand posted a bunch of videos weeks ago from his summer Route 66 trip, but I missed this one. Here, he talks to Bill Kinder, co-owner of the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, N.M., as he's about to install new neon lighting in July. The previous neon was destroyed by a severe … Continue reading Putting back the neon
A couple of globe trotters
KOTV in Tulsa caught up with Ezra Cooley, the cowboy who wants to circle the globe on horseback and raise money for the National Children's Cancer Society. Much of his path is on Route 66. The video segment is here. The story is here.
An obscure figure of the Bunion Derby
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer today published an excellent story about Ed Gardner, one of the runners in the 3,400-mile transcontinental footrace, famously called the Bunion Derby, that took place on Route 66. As many Route 66ers know, Oklahoma native Andy Payne won the race and its $25,000 prize. But few know of Gardner, who was one … Continue reading An obscure figure of the Bunion Derby
Route 66 as a teaching tool
It's already been reported here, but Central Connecticut State University published an article about two sociology professors, John Mitrano and Bruce Day, who earned a $2,775 grant from the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program to help schools and universities incorporate Route 66 as a teaching tool. A few tidbits from the article: “Each year we … Continue reading Route 66 as a teaching tool
Kansas Route 66 association president dies
Sad news from longtime Route 66er Carolyn Pendleton, who reported late Monday on the Route 66 yahoogroup: Today Baxter Springs and the Kansas Historic Route 66 Association lost a dear friend. Earl Staton, our president, passed away. Earl was 91 years old, and he lost his battle with cancer. Earl had more knowledge of the … Continue reading Kansas Route 66 association president dies
All for the sake of the punchline
KOB-TV reports that a couple driving from Grants, N.M., to Albuquerque pulled into the parking lot of the Route 66 Casino because the woman was going into labor. With the help of a police dispatcher on the other end of the phone line, the father helped his wife deliver the baby right there. Mother and … Continue reading All for the sake of the punchline