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.
Category: People
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
Bicycle rider may not be through yet
Remember Buddy Boren? He's the Texas cancer survivor who's made several cross-country cycling journeys for fundraisers. His most recent trek, pedaling across the length of Route 66, was his most difficult, according to WFAA.com: Mr. Boren took his licks on Route 66. He had bronchitis before he left Chicago on July 8. He hammered into … Continue reading Bicycle rider may not be through yet
Producer of “Route 66” TV series dies
Herbert B. Leonard, a producer of television shows, including the acclaimed "Route 66," died at the age of 84 on Saturday. Here's an obituary from the Los Angeles Times. (No story from the Associated Press yet; the Times must have had a scoop.) The Times had this to say about Leonard and his "Route 66" … Continue reading Producer of “Route 66” TV series dies
“Popularity Contest” contestant is building a restaurant on Route 66
Last spring, you may have watched a reality show on CMT called "Popularity Contest." In it, 10 contestants from the big city were plopped down in the Route 66 town of Vega, Texas, to win over residents and vie for a $100,000 prize they would split with one Vega citizen. The Chicago baseball scout, Alex … Continue reading “Popularity Contest” contestant is building a restaurant on Route 66
“The Train” puts in another plug for Tulsa
Country singer Wayne "The Train" Hancock, who's out touring behind his just-released "Tulsa" album, was interviewed by the Raleigh-Durham News-Observer. The interviewer sounded skeptical of Hancock's love of Tulsa, but Hancock set him straight: Q: On the title track of your new album, you make Tulsa, Okla., sound like a mighty exotic place. Is Tulsa … Continue reading “The Train” puts in another plug for Tulsa
Ultra-Marathon Man
Dean Karnazes is more than just a marathon runner. He's what's described as an ultra marathon runner. His goal is to run 50 marathons in 50 days in 50 states. He's in Tulsa right now, running on the course that will be used for the Route 66 Marathon on Nov. 19. He's just finished the … Continue reading Ultra-Marathon Man