Springfield's Bob Waldmire was the inspiration for the character "Fillmore" from the 2006 animated motion picture "Cars."
President Donald Trump has signed legislation establishing a national centennial commission in preparation for the 100th anniversary of Route 66 in 2026.
It will include 15 appointees by the president on recommendations from the secretary of transportation, Senate and House majority leaders and governors of the eight Route 66 states, including Illinois.
Route 66 begins in Chicago and ends in Santa Monica, Calif., covering a total of 2,448 miles. The famed highway was established on Nov. 11, 1926, and lost its official national designation in 1985.
The paths of Route 66 cut right through Springfield with various alignments, including what is now Business Loop 55 and, later, Dirksen Parkway and Stevenson Drive.