Bob Lile , otherwise known as "Croc" owns and operates Lile Art Gallery along 6th Avenue in historic Amarillo, Texas. He's known for creating Cadilite jewelry using paint chips from the nearby Cadillac Ranch

Join host Anthony Arno as he talks with Croc about:

• His earliest memory of Route 66
• Singing in the church choir (and Croc sings a verse for our listeners!)
• Lifelong scouting role
• Early interest in painting
• Life as a car salesman at the family Ford dealership
• Opening an art gallery later in life
• Discovering "Cadillte" art made from Cadillac Ranch paint chips
• Origin of "Croc" nickname
• Importance of Route 66

Lile Art Gallery, Amarillo

Facebook: Lile Art Gallery

Article: Cadillac Ranch

Thank you to Route 66 Podcast & Scholarship supporters, including

BUSINESS LEVEL

• Mid Point Cafe, Adrian, TX – Featuring both their ugly crust pie and one of the most popular photo ops along Route 66, located exactly halfway between Chicago and Santa Monica in Adrian, Texas.
• Gilligan's Route 66 Tours featuring tours of Route 66 in Ford Mustang convertibles, stays at historic Route 66 motels, and daily breakfast.

• Mary Beth Busutil – Florida
• Jim Crabtree – California
• Mike Fort
• Route 66 author and photographer – Shellee Graham and also my guest on Episode # 10 where she talks about her book, Tales from the Coral Court Motel.
• Kristin Haakenson – Washington
• Rich Havlik – Minnesota
• (Maureen Holt – Arizona)
• Mary Nicholson – Pennsylvania
• Brian Sawyer – Indiana

And from the United Kingdom

• Charli Beeton

Please consider supporting both The Route 66 Podcast and Scholarship Program. All supporters will receive an additional 15 minutes of conversation with Croc, where he talks about:

• Additional childhood memories, WW II, and Route 66
• Experience as a college student
• Learning art from the earliest masters and traveling around the world studying technique
• Early days of selling Route 66 ads for a pubnlication and the first art gallery
• Some of the most prized possessions at Lile Art gallery
• The most memorable tourist he ever led along Route 66
• Other Amarillo attractions

Congratulations to this months Patreon winner, Brian Sawyer from Indiana, who has won a Route 66 wall calendar. Congratulations Brian! For next month, one lucky Patreon winner will win a copy of The Road Crews Songs from The Mother Road CD. You can hear The Road Crew on Episode 14.

Roamin' Rich represents the latest generation of preservationists dedicated to promote and preserve Route 66. He is the president of the Missouri Route 66 Association, a key member in the Painted Desert Trading Post cooperative, and the person behind most of the shields you see painted on the roadway.

Join host Anthony Arno as he talks with Roamin' Rich about:

• His earliest memory of Route 66
• The popular nickname Roamin' Rich
• His first act as a preservationaist
• Painting Route 66 shields on the road
• His largest shield ever placed to honor Gary Turner
• The infamous Chevy hood with Route 66 signatures
• The Missouri Route 66 Assocition
• Roamin' Rich and his YouTube channel
• The unknown fact about Route 66
• Most cherished souvenier
• Painted Desert Trading Post, Gasconade Bridge, and other projects

This extended version of The Route 66 Podcast is only available to Patreon members and also includes Rich talking in depth about:

• How he tried to honor Gary Turner with one of the largest Route 66 shields he ever painted in Paris Springs and why the Missouri DOT requested it be removed. Hear about the compromise they both agreed upon.
• Although it was "never his intention to become president," Rich talks about how the past president antagonized him one too many times and the final straw that caused him to run for president and overwhelmingly win the seat. You may be surprised at the grade he gives himself as president.
• His thoughts on the closing of the Eat-Rite Diner in St. Louis amidst a worldwide pandemic. What are some of the biggest challenges of operating a historic business along Route 66 in St. Louis?

Thank you again to everyone who has supported both the podcast and scholarship program through Patreon. The 2020 - 2021 scholarship program is currently being rolled out and please encourage all students in grades K - college to apply. The college award will be $500.

Congratulations to Patreon supporter Rich Havlik from Minnesota, who is the latest Patreon winner! Rich has won a Route 66 wall calendar.

Roamin' Rich Links:

Website: Roamin' Rich

Website: Gary Turner (Gae Parita Service Station)

Website: Missouri Route 66 Association

FB Page: Painted Desert Trading Post

FB Page: John's Modern Cabins

FB Page: Eat-Rite Diner

At 92 years old, Peter MacDonald is just one of five surviving Navajo Code talkers who played a vital part in World War II during the Battle of Iwo Jima, where 25,000 lives were lost over a period of 6 weeks. Upon his return home, he was sworn to a vow of secrecy for 23 years until the Marines declassified the mission while working as a Project Engineer on the Polaris Missile Project for Howard Hughes. MacDonald has also served as a four time Chairman of The Navajo Indian Nation, a position similar to a governor of native American territory.

Join host Anthony Arno as he talks with local Route 66 realtor Jacque Kellogg who connects the Navajo Code talkers with a little known motel that sits on Route 66 in Flagstaff, AZ.

The Route 66 Podcast Scholarship winners have been announced, and they are featured on the current episode of The Route 66 Podcast.

The program invited students in grades K - 12 to submit original work that promotes and preserves our beloved highway, Route 66. The program this past year included a total of $175 in awards, and applicants were invited to submit almost any medium that would express their interest in Route 66, including:

• Art Work
• Photographs
• Crafts
• Interviews
• Theatrical Performance
• Music
• Videos
• PowerPoint, Prezi, Canva, Google Slides,
• Multimedia Presentation

You can see the winning entries on our website at Route 66 Podcast.com.

In addition, the show introduces the Route 66 Podcast and Scholarship Patreon program, where you can support efforts to promote and preserve Route 66. Patreon supporters can sign up to receive a washable Route 66 face mask, early release of podcasts including extended episodes, promotional materials related to Route 66, and the opportunity to vote in the 2021 Scholarship program.

For more than three decades Jim Hinckley has been telling people where to go and sharing the adventure. His passion for Route 66, the back roads of America and the automobiles he has shared through books, feature articles, blog posts, video, Facebook live programs, and presentations.

Published work includes nineteen books on topics as diverse as The Illustrated History of the Checker Cab Manufacturing Company, Ghost Towns of Route 66, Travel Route 66, The Big Book of Car Culture, and The Route 66 Encyclopedia, and most recently Murder and Mayhem on Route 66.

Join host Anthony Arno as he talks with Jim about his extensive book writing career featuring Route 66, and Jim gives personal feedback from some of his most favorite places along Route, his work in his home community of Kingman, AZ, and his early encounter with Jay Leno.

The life sized Blue Whale in Catoosa, OK, is one of the most recognized structures to be found along Route 66. Hugh Davis built The Blue Whale as an anniversary gift to his wife Zelta back in the 1970's. At its peak The Blue Whale was. a popular swimming. spot, drawing well over 100 locals on a hot summer day.

Join Route 66 Podcast host Anthony Arno, as he talks with Blaine Davis (78 years old) about his fathers life long work as the director of the Tulsa Zoo, growing up with parents who appreciated the outdoors, and what prompted Hugh to construct The Blue Whale upon retirement despite not having any welding experience or working with cement.

In addition, Linda Hobbs, The Blue Whale gift shop manager and author of a children's book featuring this Oklahoma icon also joins the conversation as she talks about the importance of The Blue Whale, what it was like working with Hugh, and why Route 66 is so important for the younger generation of children who visit this popular Mother Road destination.

Perhaps one of the most popular motels along Route 66, The Blue Swallow Motel has been in operation since 1941 and still provides patrons with private garages for their vehicles. Originally received as a wedding gift from her fiance, Lillian Redman ran the motel for over 40 years before stepping back from the hospitality business in her late 80's. Since that time, there have been other owners, but Kevin and Nancy Mueller have maintained the true character of The Blue Swallow since 2011 that would have made Lillian proud.

Named by Smithsonian Magazine as "the last, best and friendliest of the old-time motels", The Blue Swallow Motel has caught the attention of everyone from Pixar films to Bob Dylan. Featured in the classic movie Cars, The Blue Swallow's neon is a wink in the movie to The Cozy Cone Motel, which displays in neon, "100% Refrigerated Air" slogan.

Join The Route 66 Podcast host Anthony Arno as he talks with Kevin Mueller about maintaining and operating one of the most popular destinations along the Road. The episode features talks about:

• Kevin and his wife looking for a semi-retirmement career along Route 66
• What the Mueller's didn't know about Route 66 and The Blue Swallow Motel
• Truly understanding the appeal of The Blue Swallow
• Transitioning from a corporate executive to managing an iconic Route 66 establishment
• Behind the scenes renovations at The Blue Swallow
• What the Mueller's wish they knew before taking over The Blue Swallow
• A typical day at the motel
• The life of Lillian Redman, early proprieor of The Blue Swallow (1958)

Long before the glory days of Route 66, the Route 66 town of Dwight, IL, was the center of the world thanks to a Civil War surgeon who established the world's first treatment center for alcohol and drug addiction. Dr. Keeley's method involved having patients ingest flecks of gold dust, which was very secretive at the time.

Join Dr. Timothy Hickman, from Lancaster University (United Kingdom) as he talks with Route 66 Podcast host Anthony Arno all about a little known treatment center that continued to exist well into the glory days of Route 66.

By the 1900, Dr. Keeley was perhaps the most famous physician in the world that people loved to hate because of his methodology. Many thought that he was a real "quack," but he was certainly a pioneer in treating addictions with over 200 treatment centers around the world by the beginning of the 20th Century.

Don't miss one of those episodes about Route 66 that truly contains a bizarre but true story about life along The Mother Road.

The El Vado, a 1937 Route 66 Motel, was recently purchased by Chadd Rennaker and not only restored the motel to its original charm, but he also converted select rooms into a gathering space for area merchants. The result is a Route 66 destination that allows travelers not only a place to stay, but also a place to sample the local food and crafts from the regions. Join Route 66 host Anthony Arno as he talks with Chadd about restoring the El Vado Motel in Albuquerque, NM.