Chandler resident Jerry McClanahan was inducted into the Route 66 Hall of Fame in a ceremony on Saturday held at the Route 66 Museum in Clinton, according to the Route 66 Association.
McClanahan was one of two inductees honored for their efforts to promote and preserve the famous road. The other was the late Jeannette “Bunny” Neff of Sayre.
“Our mission is to preserve and promote the road,” said Association President Rhys Martin at the ceremony. “Recognizing people that have been instrumental to that mission is a key part of ensuring the legacy of Route 66 remains alive and well.”
McClanahan was put up for the induction by his friend and another Hall of Famer, Jim Ross, the Route 66 Association website said. McClanahan has been traveling Route 66 all of his life, taking photos and painting it before creating maps. His gallery is a popular destination for Route 66 tourists in Chandler, and his EZ-66 Guide for Travelers is well-known. The guide was first published in 2005 and is currently in its fifth edition.
The new park to be installed next to the Route 66 Interpretive Center is named after him and will feature an art installation by McClanahan.
The Route 66 Hall of Fame began 30 years ago and is added to every two years. The first inductee was historian Michael Wallis. Lt. Governer Matt Pinnell led the ceremony.