Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame Members

The Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame recognizes "those people and places along Route 66 whose blend of hardy individualism and grassroots community spirit gave the road such special character."

To qualify for election to the Hall of Fame, nominees must have made significant contributions to the character or history of the Illinois portion of Route 66 from 1926 to 1977 while it was an official United States highway in the State of Illinois.

Here we proudly share the growing list of those who through the years have made Route 66 in Illinois the place we know, cherish and vow to preserve.

Inducted June 9, 1990

Ernie Edwards, Pig Hip Restaurant, Broadwell
John Geske and J.P. Walters, Dixie Truckers Home, McLean
Francis Marten, Our Lady of the Highways Shrine, Raymond
Francis Mowery, Illinois State Police, Pontiac
Russel Soulsby Shell Service Station, Mt. Olive

Inducted June 8, 1991

Mertha Paulsen Jensen, Paulsen (Carefree) Motel, Dwight
M.F. "Cotton" McNabney, Cotton's Village Inn, Bloomington
Ed Waldmire Family, The Cozy Dog Drive-In, Springfield

Inducted June 13, 1992

Ariston Cafe and the Adam Family, Litchfield
Steve and Glaida Funk, Funk's Grove
Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket, Willowbrook
John Stonecipher, Stoney's Service, Odell

Inducted June 12, 1993

Chester D. Henry, Illinois State Police, Pontiac
Ervin Kolarik, Chicken Basket Restaurant, Willowbrook
Effie Marx, Waitress, Dwight
Bill Shea, Shea's Finest Truck Covers, Springfield

Inducted June 11, 1994

Hubert Henry, Truck Driver, St. Louis
Rodino Square and the Carmen Rodino Family, Pontiac
The Riviera, Roadhouse and Restaurant, near Gardner

Inducted June 10, 1995

Grace Brown, Larry and Debbie Lucas and Howard E. and MariAna McAnarney, Art's Restaurant, Farmersville
The Benedict Family, Chuck and Delmar Benedict and Eleanor Benedict Roberts, McLean
H. Burt Parkinson, Editor, Gardner
G.J. Mecherle, State Farm Insurance, Bloomington

Inducted June 8, 1996

The Old Log Cabin Restaurnt, Pontiac, Marjorie O'Brien, Brad and Debbie Trainer
Eddie's Pure Truck Stop/Eddie's Union 76 Truck Stop, Towanda, Edward and Marjorie Baize
Wilton C. Rinkel, Farmer, Edwardsville
Irvin Brothers, Inc., Bloomington, Maurice Irvin

Inducted June 7, 1997

Rev. Dean "Shug" Benton, Truck Driver, Bloomington
Albert Cassens Family and The Cassens Transport Co., Edwardsville
Ralph M. Hay and Frank Hay, Hay Brothers Garage, Divernon
J. Richard Jones, Dick Jones Garage, Odell

Inducted June 13, 1998

The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, Mitchell
Arline and Elmo Winterland and the Oasis Drive-In, Lexington
Sky View Drive-In, Litchfield
White Fence Farm and the Hastert Family, Romeoville

Inducted June 12, 1999

Casey's Garden Shop, Bloomington
FitzHenry Oil Company, Joliet
Robert D. (Bob) Johnson and Brandtville Restaurant, Bloomington
Rialto Square Theater, Joliet

Inducted June 10, 2000

Agusta "Gussie" Keller, Pontiac
Joe Edwards, Gas Station Owner, Lincoln
The Launching Pad Drive-In, Wilmington
District 6, Illinois State Police Headquarters, Pontiac

Inducted June 9, 2001

Coliseum Ballroom, Benld
DeCamp Junction Tavern, near Staunton
Standard Oil Gasoline Station, Odell
Watt Brothers Pharmacies, Springfield

Inducted June 8, 2002

Gordon Gunderson, Gardner
Lou Mitchell's Restaurant, Chicago
Polk-a-Dot Drive In Restaurant, Braidwood
Schlechte Family Service Station/Worden Y Club Restaurant, Worden
Shea Family, Springfield
John and Lenore Weiss, Wilmington

Inducted June 7, 2003

Fassero Family, Benld
Andy Granatelli, Montecito, CA
Union Miners Cemetery, Mount Olive
Wishing Well Motel, LaGrange

Inducted June 5, 2004

Rita Erikson, Odell
Gray Family, Braceville
Luna Cafe, Mitchell
Streetcar/Diner, Gardner

Inducted June 11, 2005

Aggelopoulous Family, Wilmington
Ambler, Becker Families Texaco, Dwight
Atlanta Public Library, Atlanta
Chenoa Pharmacy, Chenoa

Inducted June 10, 2006

Willie Anderson Trucking, Lexington
Berghoff Restaurant, Chicago
Scotty's Restaurant, Hamel
Leland Storm, Hamel

Inducted June 9, 2007

Brown's Wrecker Service, Bloomington
Joy Henderson, Pontiac
Roger "Sodie" and Shirley Soderstrom, Bloomington
The Curve Inn, Springfield

Inducted June 7, 2008

Brook's Catsup Bottle, Collinsville
Leroy and Pauline Curtiss, Pontiac
Frank T. Sheets, Illinois Chief Engineer, 1920-1932

Inducted June 13, 2009

The Crossroads Diner, Mt. Olive
The Mill on Route 66, Lincoln
Sprague’s Super Service, Normal
Stateville Prison, Crest Hill

Inducted June 12, 2010

817 Hillsboro, Edwardsville – The Deck Brothers, Girard
Lewis “Zoo” Barrick, Lincoln – Snuffy’s Grill, McCook

Inducted June 11, 2011

Boyd’s Place, Odell
Leo Bornder, Lexington

Inducted June 9, 2012

Samuel L. Reichert, Sr., U.S. Route 66 Service Station Operator (1950-1970) Plainfield, IL
Quinn Service Station / Quinn Family / Elmo A., Eldon A., Elmo C. and Eula Quinn, Bloomington, IL
Roger Gray, Gray's Garage, Inc., Pontiac, IL
The Ra66it Ranch, Stanuton, IL

Tom Teague Ambassador's Award

The Illinois Route 66 Association Tom Teague Ambassador Award is a program administered by Hall of Fame Committee of the Route 66 Association of Illinois. Its purpose is to honor and commemorate the exceptional person or persons who have excelled in the education, promotion and restoration of Route 66 in Illinois since the decommissioning in 1977.

To qualify for election to the Tom Teague Ambassador Award nominees must have made significant contributions to Illinois Route 66 through:

A. extensive work in exposing the general public to the story of Route 66 in Illinois using lectures, presentations, photo exhibits video or recorded programs, and

B. Authorship of a published book on Route 66 in Illinois and/or the entire Route, and

C. Recipient of one of the National Route 66 Awards.

Committee Members may elect a new Illinois Route 66 Association Tom Teague Ambassador Award recipient during the annual Hall of Fame Committee meetings. This award is not anticipated to be an annual award. It is reserved for the truly exceptional individual who has provided outstanding benefits to the Route 66 Association of Illinois for an extended period of years.

Recipients of The Route 66 Association of Illinois Tom Teague Ambassador's Award:

Tom Teague - June 11, 2005

Durelle and Marilyn Pritchard - June 10, 2006

Lenore & John Weiss - June 13, 2009