Bob Waldmire: Ambassador of the Mother Road
If there is one name that stirs your memory of a man that was truly the ambassador of the Mother Road, it would be BOB WALDMIRE. For those that were his family and close friends, to those that only met him once or never met him at all, he was a giant among men.
By Jim Conkle
This writer was one of his close friends, an honor that I carry proudly. Yet, I along with so many others who considered him our best friend, know everyone that ever met him felt the same way. There have been many great artists that have shaped our country, Georgia O’Keeffe, Norman Rockwell and Thomas Kinkade to name just a few. Our beloved Bob Waldmire will soon join that list in the public’s eye.
A collection of postcards drawn by Bob:
We’re happy to announce that we’re about to embark on a new adventure, one that Indiana Jones could be a part of. Yes folks, we are going on an archaeological dig. Not in some far away land, jungle or desert but in a barn in Rochester, IL that belongs to Buz Waldmire, one of Bob’s four brothers.
Why? Because, in this barn there is treasure to be found in the boxes, containers, bags and yes, maybe even shoe boxes. Bob was a collector as well as an artist and he documented everything he did in journals, notes and scrap books.
Our task is to sort, clean, inventory, scan and catalog this material to preserve Bob’s artwork and life story for future generations.
We will be documenting this adventure with photos/videos/interviews and will bring it all together for everyone to enjoy on our web site.
We invite others to join us on October 9-10-11, 2020, if you can. This will be an organized event and done to existing museum standards. In other words, done in a controlled environment using procedures that will protect the integrity of Bob’s material. Be a part of “history in the making” by participating in this exciting project.
If you cannot join us, please share your memories of Bob with photos and comments on social media or via e-mails to us. And if you do share on social media, please let us know so that we can keep track of all the information.
Throughout this process we will be offering Bob’s artwork and other items for sale through our web site including our production of a Documentary Video, a custom magazine and many new items of merchandise featuring the image of Bob.
Our goal is to keep the memory of Bob alive as well as introduce him to all the new Route 66 roadies around the world.
One of Bob’s famous detailed maps:
Click image to open in a larger window to see more detail
Click image to open in a larger window to see more detail
September 14, 2020 @ 3:48 pm
Bob remains to be embedded deeply into the core of our soul and locked tightly into the heart of the Mother Road…And from Bob & his Beloved Bus, we are a Family! Thankyou, Brother Bob for opening your doors for us International Folks! Lorrie Fleming – Founder Canadian Association (Going Beyond Borders)…
September 15, 2020 @ 4:33 pm
Thank you Lorrie. We will be using the articles from the Canadian Route 66 Association as well as the photos in future issues.
September 14, 2020 @ 7:38 pm
Fantastic artist, great subject… have driven and/or hitch-hiked the Mother Road over a 65+ years period.
September 15, 2020 @ 4:37 pm
Thanks Tom. Protecting the past for future generations is the responsibility of us in the present. We are proud to play a part with so many others in keeping the legacy of Route 66 and Bob alive.
September 27, 2020 @ 5:31 am
I had the pleasure of meeting Bob twice. The last time was on his last trip on the Mother Road, we caught up at the Cozy dog and chatted for quite a long time. He was a special guy and very generous. I am thrilled to own a few of his drawings