Searching for Tom Teague
President’s Note: I’ve been spending some time going through some of our archives at the Oklahoma Route 66 Association. It’s amazing what kinds of artifacts get tucked away over the years. As I find things of interest, either to newer Route 66 fans or folks that have been here since US Highway 66 was the only way west, I’ll post them for the community to enjoy. Thanks for reading!
SEARCHING FOR TOM TEAGUE
By Robert Waldmire, November 17th, 2004
Tom Teague's death is old news now. But when I started writing this tribute, at 3 a.m., back on September 17th, this sad news was fresh, and I was still learning details. I can blame Route 66, at least in part, for this tribute taking two months to complete. It's great to be busy and Route 66 continues to keep me very busy.
I've spent much time on Teague-related things: drawing a pencil portrait of him, giving a talk about him at the Illinois 66 Association meeting in Bloomington in October, consulting with the printer of his book, composing the first in a new postcard series titled "Legends of old Rt. 66" (featuring Tom), and commiserating with Ernie Edwards. Tom's death was a unique loss for Ernie and me. Both of us were counting on his help with our respective book projects: Ernie's autobiography, and my biography of my Father Ed.
Tom died on his 61st birthday, September 11th. Two days earlier he was in Broadwell. Ernie played him the audio tapes he'd been re cording his "memoirs". Tom told him, "We'll have to get busy and write that grant".
At 88, Ernie may need some help with his book, but he's determined to get it done. Tom was also a close friend of my parents, Ed and Gin Waldmire, and he was looking forward to helping me with my book project, the "Story of the man who invented the hot dog-on-a-stick".
I last saw Tom on Sept. 4th, one week before his death. He'd stopped by my vending spot at the Mustang Grand National show in Springfield. He told me he'd recently resigned from his job as director of the Illinois State Historical Society and was looking forward to having lots more time for freelancing. Many familiar with Tom's book, Searching For 66, probably don't know how prolific a writer he was. He wrote on many subjects, people and places, and one of my own pet projects is to help assemble a collection of his stories.
In the meantime my task is to see that his book does not go out of print and become unavailable. That would be an immeasurable loss to 66 and 66'rs.
Tom was beloved by all who knew him. Those he met were enriched by the meeting. He had a deep and abiding interest in people, places, history and preservation. Those talking with him sensed his interest in their own lives and doings. Tom was a frail man but had a rich, resonant, reassuring voice. He had no interest in small talk or gossip (unless it was about 66!). There was no meanness or malice in him. Many of the tributes that poured in after his death referred to his candor, his dry wit, his "deadpan humor". He was a master of the aphorism: a principle or truth briefly or tersely expressed. He was an excellent writer and interviewer. In 1990 he became the first double winner in the 11-year history of the Friends of Lincoln Library's "Writers of the Year" contest. That year his prize was for an essay on East St. Louis, "Been Down So Long". Earlier, in 1986, he'd won with his essay "Route 66: The Father of Highways". He described his specialty creative non-fiction - as "stuff I don't have to think of myself".
Thea Chesley, president of Illinois Central Blues Club, which Tom Teague founded, says, "He had a way of keeping stupid things from happening in a few words". Fellow Blues Club member Janeen Burkholder described Teague as "Always a wise voice, a wise counsel. He was very diplomatic person, a listener more than a talker. The blues spoke to him the way Route 66 did".
Patty Kuhn, executive director of the Illinois Route 66 Heritage Project, observed, "He never minced words and was one of the most honest and sincere people I've ever met. What endeared him was his subtle humor and incredible wit. He was one of a kind". Bill Furry, former editor of Springfield's Illinois Times newspaper, described him as "An exceptional writer. He was meticulous, loved words and loved language in general. He was always editing himself, making sure every word was what he wanted. When I was editing, he was one of the few people who always sent in pristine copy".
Tom's involvement with Rt. 66 was far-reaching. In addition to his book Searching For 66, he was founding president of the Illinois Rt. 66 Association and edited the Association's newsletter for four years. He established the Rt. 66 Hall of Fame in the Dixie Truck Stop in McLean and he founded the Friends of Soulsby Shell to further the preservation of that historic filling station in Mount Olive. He was a Roads Scholar who conducted many Rt. 66 bus tours and gave talks on 66 to county historical societies, public libraries and Elderhostels. At the time of his death he had several more talks lined up to give.
Lucille Hamons loved to tell the story of how she "introduced" Tom and me. In a 1996 story, Tom wrote, "Although we'd both lived in Springfield, Illinois for many years, it was a woman 600 miles away who finally put Bob Waldmire and me together. Lucille Hamons has owned and operated a combination store, gas station and motel alongside Route 66 near Hydro, Oklahoma, for more than fifty years. I spent a couple of days with her in 1986 when I was doing research for my book. Unbeknownst to me, Bob set off on his own 66 journey in 1987 and also met Lucille. When she found we didn't know each other, she told Bob to correct the situation. Since you don't jive Lucille, Bob followed through. When he got back home a few months later, he invited me out to Cardinal Hill, the Waldmire family estate near Rochester. He introduced me to his folks. He became my friend and collaborator. It was even on Bob's bus that the idea of a Route 66 Association of Illinois was born. I am a reporter and organizer of 66. That's okay, but it's derivative. Bob, however, is the genuine item, the next generation of Route 66 old-timer. And as long as we have him, we'll have the road."
That last part is typical of the flattery and praise Tom lavished on me. It's a lot to live up to. Tom was my biggest "booster", talking me and my artwork up at every opportunity.
Tom was a gentle man with firm convictions. His life and work and friendship will continue to have a profound and positive influence on me. Tom helped lead thousands of others setting out on their own "searches for 66". And Tom himself was still searching the road for stories he had so many more to tell!
To get a sense of how life used to be on Old 66, read Searching For 66. Many of the "living legends" he profiled are still living - seek them out, meet them, learn from them.
One he profiled, Joe Shaheen, owned and operated Springfield Speedway on Bypass 66. He described how Joe's funeral procession went out of its way to the Speedway so the hearse could take Joe on one final lap around his track. How ironic that Tom's funeral procession passed by the site of the old Speedway on its way to Camp Butler.
Tom, a veteran, was buried with full military honors. I had the honor of being one of the pallbearers at the very moving ceremony. Fittingly, while one of Tom's old army buddies gave the eulogy, a train whistle sounded in the distance. John Kelso said, "He's out there, ahead of us, looking to see who we will be. When he told us about people, we learned something about ourselves. Whatever he said, he said in gentleness".
Tom ended his book with these words: "I preserve 66, in part, by telling these stories. Everyone can preserve it simply by being there. When you go, look for me." I for one will be searching for him when I get close to Hydro.
I plan to attach a wreath to the fence in front of Lucille's, to join the shrines erected in memory of Lucille Hamons and two other fallen 66'rs: Cheryl Cory and Kirk Woodward.
Tom's legacy to us is the inspiration to continue the preservation efforts he was so passionately involved in. As fellow-author Jim Ross wrote, "His contributions to roadside culture will live on. He is now on a pilgrimage greater than any of us can imagine, and I am sure he will leave his mark there as well."
The 2005 Illinois Route 66 Motor Tour will be named in honor of Tom Teague.
