The Quay County Sun in Tucumcari, N.M., caught up with Michelle Thompson, the woman who is cycling solo on Route 66. She's doing it in tribute to her brother, who is battling oral cancer, and to raise awareness of oral cancer. It sounds like she's had quite a gratifying adventure so far: “So many people … Continue reading Cancer rider update
Category: People
Miss Route 66 travels her namesake
Kara Knudsen, 18, of Norco, Calif., was crowned Miss Route 66 for 2006-07 at a pageant in Barstow a while back. To her credit, she's been traveling the road that provides her title, according to the Winslow (Ariz.) Mail: She and her grandfather, Robert Knudsen, 75, have been travelling their favorite road eastbound for some … Continue reading Miss Route 66 travels her namesake
Wilmington honors a Route 66 booster
The Route 66 town of Wilmington, Ill., honored Angelo Aggelopoulos as the grand marshal of the town's Christmas parade and led the countdown to light the Christmas tree, reported the Kankakee Daily Journal. As far as I'm concerned, the honors are warranted because of this: Tour buses visiting stops along the famous U.S. Route 66 … Continue reading Wilmington honors a Route 66 booster
Route 66 photographer profiled
Melissa Lea, a jewelry designer and Route 66 photographer, earns an extended feature article about her life and times (so far) from her hometown newspaper, the Bedford (Ind.) Times-Mail. If you want to see her work, Melissa's Web site is here.
Joplin museum director honored by governor
Brad Belk, executive director of the Joplin (Mo.) Museum Complex, was given the 2006 Governor's Humanities Community Heritage Award. According to a news release: This award recognizes a special contribution to a community’s understanding of its heritage. Here's a rundown of Belk's accomplishments. In addition to helping a prominent Route 66 town, he's also served … Continue reading Joplin museum director honored by governor
A magic night on 66
Tulsa blogger Michael Bates spent a rather eventful evening on Route 66 -- the same day as the road's 80th anniversary and his birthday. He encountered a few people who should be familiar to Route 66 fans, including a certain VW driver. Go read the whole thing. It's really good.
Happy ending for soldiers
After the Veterans Day list of U.S. soldiers from Route 66 towns who died in Iraq and Afghanistan, it's nice to have a story about soldiers with happy endings. In Gallup, N.M., members of the National Guard's 1116th Transportation Company were welcomed home with a parade on Route 66. No soldiers were killed or injured … Continue reading Happy ending for soldiers
A tribute to fallen soldiers from Route 66 towns
On this Veterans Day, we thought we'd pay homage to soldiers from Route 66 towns who died in Iraq and Afghanistan. Route 66 is often described as the "world's longest small town." So when one of its own dies, we feel the loss more. I can attest that small towns are more appreciative of their … Continue reading A tribute to fallen soldiers from Route 66 towns
Woman cycling Route 66 to help cancer-stricken brother
Michelle Thompson is cycling on part of Route 66 during a 2,500-mile trip from Glen Ellyn, Ill., to Costa Mesa, Calif., to raise money for her brother, who is being treated for oral cancer, reports the Bloomington (Ill.) Pantagraph. The trek is expected to take six weeks, and Thompson, 35, hopes to raise $50,000. The … Continue reading Woman cycling Route 66 to help cancer-stricken brother
No ordinary man
I stumbled across this obituary for Glen Leonhardt in the San Bernardino County Sun. He held the somewhat ordinary job of a mechanic, but his deeds and experiences made his life extraordinary. His ties to Route 66 were multiple: He helped build that road in Vega, Texas; he married a woman from the Route 66 … Continue reading No ordinary man