A couple of weeks ago, the Oklahoma Route 66 Association uploaded a 25-year-old promotional video about the Will Rogers Highway Memorials that are sprinkled along Route 66 and the memorials' namesake. The association wrote: In the 1990s, Darrell Ray of Joplin had an idea to help promote the revitalization of Historic Route 66 by reviving … Continue reading Old promotional video for Will Rogers Highway Memorials is uploaded
Category: People
Director of Oklahoma Route Museum retiring after 30 years
Pat Smith, the director of the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton, is retiring later this month after 30 years at the facility. A going-away party will be hosted at the museum at 2229 W. Gary Blvd. (Route 66) at 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 29, announced Jim Ross, a longtime Route 66 historian. The museum … Continue reading Director of Oklahoma Route Museum retiring after 30 years
Tommy Pike, former president of Route 66 Association of Missouri, dies
Tommy Pike, who was once president of the Route 66 Association of Missouri for about 20 years, has died. An obituary had not been posted as of Saturday. Greenlawn Funeral Home North in Springfield, Missouri, did not give details of Pike's death, citing privacy laws. However, a spokesperson at the funeral home confirmed it handled … Continue reading Tommy Pike, former president of Route 66 Association of Missouri, dies
Stephanie Stuckey to receive annual Legacy of Innovation and Inspiration Award
Historic Hotels of America announced this week that Stephanie Stuckey will receive the 2025 Historic Hotels of America Legacy of Innovation and Inspiration Award. Historic Hotels of America is the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for recognizing and celebrating the finest historic hotels in the United States. The Historic Hotels Annual … Continue reading Stephanie Stuckey to receive annual Legacy of Innovation and Inspiration Award
Founders of Frontier Restaurant to be honored by New Mexico Restaurant Association
The founders of the iconic Frontier Restaurant along Route 66 in Albuquerque will be given the lifetime achievement award at the New Mexico Restaurant Association’s Hospitality Industry Awards. Larry and Dorothy Rainosek founded the Frontier near the University of New Mexico campus in 1971. They also later founded the small Golden Pride restaurant chain in … Continue reading Founders of Frontier Restaurant to be honored by New Mexico Restaurant Association
Route 66 photographer David Schwartz to hold exhibition in Wilmington next month
Photographer and storyteller David J. Schwartz will premiere his new Route 66 exhibition, "Roadwork Ahead: The Exhibition – A Future for the Mother Road," at the Art On 66 Gallery in Wilmington, Illinois. The show opens with a public reception on Oct. 12, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and will remain on view through … Continue reading Route 66 photographer David Schwartz to hold exhibition in Wilmington next month
Robert Redford helped save Santa Monica Pier from demolition during the 1970s
In the wake of actor and director Robert Redford's death this week at age 89, a story emerged about how he helped save the decaying Santa Monica Pier from being torn down in the early 1970s. It's hard to believe now, but the pier was so dilapidated, the Santa Monica City Council voted to demolish … Continue reading Robert Redford helped save Santa Monica Pier from demolition during the 1970s
Kevin Hansel, former California Historic Route 66 Association president, dies at 64
Kevin Hansel, a former California Historic Route 66 Association president and a longtime proponent of the Mother Road, died Monday after a lengthy illness. He was 64. Hansel's death was announced by his niece, Ashley Caceras, on the California Historic Route 66 Association's page on Facebook. "Kevin was a vital part of my life and … Continue reading Kevin Hansel, former California Historic Route 66 Association president, dies at 64
“Bozo” Cordova, founder of the Route 66 Auto Museum in Santa Rosa, dies
James "Bozo" Cordova, founder of the Route 66 Auto Museum in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, and a longtime mechanic in that city, died on Saturday. He was 77. According to his obituary, Cordova, as a youth, began working at various gas stations along Route 66 in Santa Rosa. After graduating from high school, he attended … Continue reading “Bozo” Cordova, founder of the Route 66 Auto Museum in Santa Rosa, dies
“Flat Will” lets travelers take Will Rogers with them on their next road trip
The Oklahoma Route 66 Association recently announced its launch of Flat Will, an interactive way for people to honor the Sooner State's favorite son, Will Rogers, and take him on new adventures, just in time for the Route 66 centennial in 2026. Take selfies with Flat Will -- a cutout likeness of Rogers about 11 … Continue reading “Flat Will” lets travelers take Will Rogers with them on their next road trip