The 100th anniversary celebration of Route 66 will be the topic of discussion at the Seminole Chamber of Commerce monthly forum meeting on Thursday, April 9. The luncheon meeting will be held from noon to 1 p.m. in the Haney Center at Seminole State College.

The guest speaker will be the Executive Director & CEO of the Route 66 Alliance Ken Busby. The Alliance is a nonprofit organization founded by Michael Wallis and headquartered in Tulsa, dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and enhancement of historic Route 66 – past, present, and future.

As written in the federal law commemorating the 100th anniversary of the road, “Route 66 has become a symbol of the heritage of travel and the legacy of seeking a better life shared by the people of the United States, and because Route 66 has been enshrined in the popular culture of the United States.”

A national commission was established in late 2020 to study and recommend activities to honor Route 66 on its 100th anniversary in 2026. The Route 66 Centennial aims to commemorate the historic milestone and use it to honor the road while supporting the millions who live, work, and travel along it.

Oklahoma has more drivable miles of Historic Route 66 than any other state - and celebrations are being scheduled throughout the year. The actual anniversary date of the establishment of “The Mother Road” is November 11.

Busby will be highlighting projects and activities planned in Oklahoma for this national celebration. He is past chair of the Tulsa Route 66 Commission and was appointed by the Governor to the Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission in 2020. He also serves on the Events and Celebrations Working Group of the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission. He is immediate past president of the Oklahoma Museums Association and serves on the executive committees of the Tulsa Symphony, Tulsa Performing Arts Center Trust, and the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence.

A native of Tulsa, Busby holds a dual Bachelor of Arts degree in communication and French from the University of Tulsa. He has a Master of Arts degree in journalism from Indiana University at Bloomington. A member of Phi Beta Kappa, Busby is also a graduate of Leadership Oklahoma Class XVII. In 2022 he was named to the inaugural class of “55 Over 55 Inspiring Oklahomans.”

The forum meeting of local civic clubs is open to the public. Cost for the meal is $15 per person.

For more information about the forum program, contact the Chamber of Commerce office at 405-382-3640.