Bob Waldmire
Encyclopedia
Bob Waldmire was an American artist who is well known for his artwork of U.S. Route 66
. Being the son of Ed Waldmire Jr., he is often associated with the Cozy Dog Drive In
restaurant in Springfield, Illinois
(on U.S. Route 66
), where it is claimed that the elder Waldmire (along with his friend Don Strand) created the corn dog
.
One of Waldmire's modified vehicles, an orange 1972 Volkswagen Microbus, was the inspiration for the character "Fillmore" from the animated motion picture Cars
.
Waldmire was a well-known snowbird
, spending his winter months in Arizona
's Chiricahua Mountains
in a self-sufficient home of his own design. During the summer, he traveled the country, but based himself in his native Central Illinois
, living in a converted Chevrolet
school bus
near Springfield.
In 2004, Bob Waldmire was given the John Steinbeck Award
because of his contributions to the preservation of Route 66.
On December 16, 2009, Waldmire died from cancer
.
U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66 was a highway within the U.S. Highway System. One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926 -- with road signs erected the following year...
. Being the son of Ed Waldmire Jr., he is often associated with the Cozy Dog Drive In
Cozy Dog Drive In
The Cozy Dog Drive In is a restaurant located in Springfield, Illinois which claims to be the first place to serve the corn dog. The claim states that the deep fried, battered hot dog on a stick was invented by Ed Waldmire Jr. and his friend, Don Strand while they were stationed at an Amarillo,...
restaurant in Springfield, Illinois
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
(on U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66 was a highway within the U.S. Highway System. One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926 -- with road signs erected the following year...
), where it is claimed that the elder Waldmire (along with his friend Don Strand) created the corn dog
Corn dog
A corn dog is a hot dog sausage coated in a thick layer of cornmeal batter and deep fried in oil, although some are baked. Almost all corn dogs are served on wooden sticks, though some early versions had no stick.-History:...
.
One of Waldmire's modified vehicles, an orange 1972 Volkswagen Microbus, was the inspiration for the character "Fillmore" from the animated motion picture Cars
Cars (film)
Cars is a 2006 American animated family film produced by Pixar and directed by John Lasseter and co-directed by Joe Ranft. It is the seventh Disney·Pixar feature film, and Pixar's final, independently-produced motion picture before its purchase by Disney...
.
Waldmire was a well-known snowbird
Snowbird (people)
The term snowbird is used to describe people from the U.S. Northeast, U.S. Midwest, or Canada who spend a large portion of winter in warmer locales such as California, Arizona, Florida, Texas, the Carolinas, or elsewhere along the Sun Belt region of the southern and southwest United States,...
, spending his winter months in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
's Chiricahua Mountains
Chiricahua Mountains
The Chiricahua Mountains are a mountain range in southeastern Arizona which are part of the Basin and Range province of the southwest, and part of the Coronado National Forest...
in a self-sufficient home of his own design. During the summer, he traveled the country, but based himself in his native Central Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, living in a converted Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
school bus
School bus
A school bus is a type of bus designed and manufactured for student transport: carrying children and teenagers to and from school and school events...
near Springfield.
In 2004, Bob Waldmire was given the John Steinbeck Award
John Steinbeck Award
The John Steinbeck Award, 'In The Souls of the People', is an annual award given to an individual that has contributed to society in the spirit of John Steinbeck...
because of his contributions to the preservation of Route 66.
On December 16, 2009, Waldmire died from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
.