It’s already been reported here, but Central Connecticut State University published an article about two sociology professors, John Mitrano and Bruce Day, who earned a $2,775 grant from the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program to help schools and universities incorporate Route 66 as a teaching tool.

A few tidbits from the article:

“Each year we conduct this field study trip, we visit a combination of intriguing new sites and our old favorites,” states Dr. Mitrano. “We are constantly meeting new Route 66 enthusiasts, business proprietors, artists, preservationists, musicians, and authors along the way.”

As part of the course, students conduct oral histories and interviews with such Route 66 individuals. To date, they have approximately 75 interviews tape recorded and are in the process of transcribing and indexing them. They will be made available for accessing by scholars and historians throughout the world.

“A memorable moment is when we bring the students to spend the night in La Posada in Winslow, Arizona,” says Day. “This restored hotel was built to serve the earliest rail service into the American southwest and is a fascinating example of American history. Stepping into this building gives you the sense of turning back time.”

Exclaims Mitrano, “I’ll never forget the time nationally-acclaimed artist Bob Waldmire spontaneously stopped by one evening when we were staying at the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, NM, and spent several magical hours talking to our students about his life and work along Route 66. The students seemed mesmerized by his accounts of traveling up and down the route in his yellow VW bus for most of his adult life.”

Sad news from longtime Route 66er Carolyn Pendleton, who reported late Monday on the Route 66 yahoogroup:

Today Baxter Springs and the Kansas Historic Route 66 Association lost a dear friend.

Earl Staton, our president, passed away. Earl was 91 years old, and he lost his battle with cancer. Earl had more knowledge of the history of Route 66 and our town than any one I ever knew. He will be missed.

We don’t know any details on the arrangements. Earl has a wonderful family so please keep them in your prayers.

Here’s a recent photo in the Route 66 Pulse of Staton with his wife Estella at the Route 66 Celebration in Riverton, Kan.

I’ll have more about arrangements as soon as I get them.

11/22/07 UPDATE: Here is the obituary in the Joplin Globe.