Those who've been on Facebook in recent weeks may have noticed photographs of people along the Mother Road and their handwritten thoughts for the "I Am Route 66" project. Surfing through the website, I've counted about 20 people from Route 66 with their images and writings -- mostly from the Texas Panhandle and eastern New … Continue reading “I Am Route 66” project focuses on its people
Category: People
The key player in Tulsa’s 11th Street revitalization
A few days ago, the Tulsa World newspaper ran a column about local developer Aaron Meek and the recent opening of Meadow Gold lofts near the historic Meadow Gold sign along Route 66 in Tulsa. Meek's father and two uncles once owned Meek's Furniture along 11th Street (aka Route 66) until the neighborhood declined and … Continue reading The key player in Tulsa’s 11th Street revitalization
“Roamin’ Rich” Dinkela ousts longtime Missouri Route 66 Association president
"Roamin' Rich" Dinkela, a popular social-media promoter of Route 66 based in the St. Louis area, defeated longtime Route 66 Association of Missouri president Tommy Pike of Springfield during the group's election Saturday. Judy Wallmark, former secretary of the Lebanon-Laclede County Route 66 Society and also of the St. Louis area, defeated incumbent association secretary … Continue reading “Roamin’ Rich” Dinkela ousts longtime Missouri Route 66 Association president
Beto O’Rourke’s day on Route 66 in Tucumcari
A few days ago, former congressman and possible presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke spent a day in Tucumcari, New Mexico, to meet with local folks and research a bit of his family history there. O'Rourke, a Democrat, rose to national prominence last year after he lost an unexpectedly close 3-point U.S. Senate race in deeply Republican … Continue reading Beto O’Rourke’s day on Route 66 in Tucumcari
Missouri State uploads “Trucking on Route 66” interviews
Missouri State University Libraries over the years has interviewed a number of Route 66 figures (including yours truly) as part of an oral-history project. It received a Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program cost-share grant to amass a "Trucking on Route 66" oral-history collection. MSU Libraries, in a collaboration with Ozarks Alive, has been uploading interviews … Continue reading Missouri State uploads “Trucking on Route 66” interviews
Man vows to restore 1939 Texaco station in Galena
A veteran recently purchased the 1939 Texaco gas station in downtown Galena, Kansas, and plans to restore it in the coming years. Aaron Perry, a veteran from Wakarusa, Kansas, closed on the deal in the fall for the property at Sixth and Main streets (aka Route 66) in Galena. Wakarusa is about three hours' drive … Continue reading Man vows to restore 1939 Texaco station in Galena
Cyclists finish long trek two years after accident in Kingman
Two tandem cyclists on Saturday finally finished their trek of nearly 9,500 miles after an accident more than two years ago in Kingman, Arizona. Kathy Behrens and Roger Hardy of Redlands, California, were hit from behind by an SUV in October 2016 after traveling through 27 states and a part of Canada. According to the … Continue reading Cyclists finish long trek two years after accident in Kingman
“Cars” director John Lasseter hired by Skydance Animation
Former Pixar Animation chief John Lasseter, director of the Route 66-inspired "Cars" film in 2006, recently was hired as chief of Skydance Animation. Lasseter -- along with the film's vision of the fictional Route 66 town of Radiator Springs -- is the figure most responsible for the Mother Road’s continued renaissance except perhaps Michael Wallis … Continue reading “Cars” director John Lasseter hired by Skydance Animation
Pops site closes in Nichols Hills area of Oklahoma City
A Pops satellite store in north Oklahoma City closed just before Christmas, although the original restaurant and convenience store that features 600 flavors of soda and a 66-foot-tall LED soda bottle along Route 66 in Arcadia, Oklahoma, continues to run. The Pops site at 6447 Avondale Drive in the Nichols Hills section of Oklahoma City … Continue reading Pops site closes in Nichols Hills area of Oklahoma City
How not to treat Route 66 tourists
This strange and unfortunate incident happened in Amboy, California, in November, but it surfaced earlier this week on the Historic Route 66 page on Facebook. The incident also largely was confirmed by Carlos Aceves, who was the town's manager, including at Roy's. Here's the Nov. 5 story by KCDZ, a community radio station that states … Continue reading How not to treat Route 66 tourists