A Year of Bob Waldmire Planned
POSTED August 17, 2010 - 11:52am | POSTED BY Editor Gina
The Route 66 Association of Illinois is proud to announce some exciting upcoming events in celebration of friend of the Mother Road, Bob Waldmire.
Three years ago, Pontiac, IL City Administrator, Bob Karls, commissioned artist Bob Waldmire to create a mural on the side of the Futures Building, next door to the Route 66 Association of Illinois Museum and Hall of Fame. Waldmire was at that time already suffering from the effects of the cancer that ultimately took his life but he bravely undertook the project. He sketched out a mural on paper that is, not surprisingly, 66 feet long in what he referred to as his last "all-nighter." The mural remains unfininshed and is officially considered Bob's last artwork.
In honor of this influential artist, the City of Pontiac and the Route 66 Association of Illinois have planned a couple celebrations for 2011 of this man who embodied the spirit of the Mother Road. Here are the tentative plans for the upcoming year:
At the Red Carpet Corridor annual Route 66 festival which is held the first weekend of May, the mural in Pontiac will be revealed. After being transferred to a piece of wood by muralists extraordinaire, the Wall Dogs, Bob's sketched outline will be hung on the side of the Futures building. Beginning with members of the Waldmire family, the public will be invited to help complete the painting of the mural, under the direction of the Wall Dogs.
Our 2011 Motor Tour, June 10-12, is slated to be dedicated to Bob Waldmire. Tie dye is the official "color" of the tour and Bob's infamous VW van and converted schoolbus (which will soon be on display at our museum in Pontiac) will be among our passport stops.
As always, we will keep you informed here on the website about further Waldmire celebrations and details on those already planned as we hear about them. We'll be featuring as much Bob Waldmire information as we can get our hands on during August, which we've deemed Bob Waldmire Month. We welcome your stories and photos to supplement our coverage of this beloved Route 66 icon!
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Traveler wrote on August 17, 2010 - 7:08pm:
That is a wonderful idea of dedicating the tour to Bob. I love the idea of the VW minibus and Chevy bus being a passport stop! I hope to attend the Red Carpet tour if all goes well. Now I just have to make a choice on what Route 66 function to attend that weekend in June the Motor tour or the roadie get together at the Amarillo TX festival....
Traveler wrote on August 17, 2010 - 1:58pm:
Actually we will be painting it on aluminum and it will be just a sketch to start. The Diaz family (Pontiac) and friends will be directing the public with instructions on how to "add your mark". You, the Rt.66 fans and travelers will be painting the mural (with instruction and help) and we walldogs will add the finishing touches.
See you in May!
Jane Diaz