A flattering profile was written by Layne Rider of FavoriteRoad.com about longtime Route 66 champion Jim Conkle.
Conkle is chairman of the Preservation for Historic Roads and Corridors, the Route 66 Preservation Foundation, the Route 66 Alliance, Highway 99 Alliance, and general manager and editor of the Route 66 Pulse newspaper.
But it was Conkle’s personality that won over Rider:
This guy is great – he’s funny, humble, positive, enthusiastic and delighted to share his love for the road with people. Before I tell you about him and our interview, let me be quick to point out that he clearly credits everyone else for any of the successes he has had. He loves the folks that live and breathe Route 66 every day; cleaning the restaurants, cooking the food, and keeping the roadway fun , clean and safe and he wishes they were with him each time he travels the Mother Road (“the road has to travel to see them, they don’t get to travel the road themselves”). He is devoted to encouraging and mentoring “roadies” who love other famous roads like the Transatlantic Highway, Lincoln Highway, Highway 99, 101, Carlsbad and the road to Yellowstone. He says, “Without them, I have so little to do.” […]
To Jim the road IS the destination, and not just Route 66. He explains there are many roadies out there devoted to their particular corridors and he knows he has an easier time of it because his “flagship” happens to be Route 66. He believes there is great value in our roads and we must take the time to promote them, “We all are stakeholders in the roads, but don’t realize it…We need people to get out and visit their Kiwanis’ and Rotary clubs, and the Chambers of Commerce and tell them about the value of theroad.” He explains there is an obvious “economic barometer” that we can use the roads for; they bring tourism to our towns and family businesses along the roads. Roads generate revenue and we need to remind people of this fact. His advice- “Be friendly to all, don’t be concerned about egos and attitudes and get out (and) find your stakeholders”. Further he explains, “(we must help each other) “create an image of our own roads, a mystique”; much like Jim has done for Route 66.
It’s a spot-on assessment of Conkle. I’m proud to consider him a friend. But, as anyone who’s met him will attest, it doesn’t take a lot of effort for you to feel at ease with him. He’s that gracious and out-going.
Ron,
Thank you my friend for sharing this message. Without the road most of us would have never met and become the life time friends that we are. If we are addicted, which we are, it is the people that fuel that addiction.
The memories we share, such as the time you and Emily were standing in front of Afton Station waving at us as we came down the road. PRICELESS.
I too consider you not only a freind and fellow roadie but a major player in the Route 66 Community.