A film crew caught up with a few of the participants in Tulsa in the Harley Owners Group’s recent cruise of Route 66, including “Route 66: The Mother Road” author Michael Wallis.
By the way, I think Wallis was kidding when he said he was the “new father” of Route 66. Or else he was going for something witty and misspoke. He knows that the true “Father of Route 66” was and always will be longtime Tulsa resident Cyrus Avery.
I don’t think he was being witty or mispoke, I’ll bet someone told him to say it? There are those out there that kind of believe it? From his book, to the movie Cars, his narrorating DVD’s and films about Route 66, Cyrus Avery Plaza, the so-called National Alliance movement and the list could on and on. At one time Route 66 was all but dead in the public’s eye, and the story goes that it was Michael that pushed the most to bring it all back to life again! Now that might not be accurate, but that’s the story that goes around? And absolutely no disrespect to Cyrus at all, who YES, will always be the true “Father of Route 66”. Which brings to bare this question – who would be the “Mother of the Mother Road”?
Lucille Hamons is the Mother of the Mother Road. (Granted, she gave herself that title many years ago when she was trying to keep her business alive, but nobody has come forward to contest it, so as far as I’m concerned, it’s hers and always will be.)
Ron, we asked Michael two/three years ago if he would mind if we referred to him as the “Godfather of Route 66” which, being granted his permission, we sometimes do. We feel this is a very appropriate way to refer to Michael.
Harley & Annabelle