Rhys Martin is an author and photographer from Tulsa, Oklahoma, and is president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association. He loves to connect with people and share travel experiences and passion for the Mother Road.
Dear Fellow Oklahomans,
You may have heard a lot about Route 66 this year. Along with the rest of the original federal highway system, Route 66 marks the 100th anniversary of its official designation in 2026. But there is a reason you’re not seeing any birthday parties for Highway 81 or any commemorative plaques for Route 64. Route 66 is something special. You may wonder what a strip of concrete and asphalt running across our state has to do with voting, but hear me out.
Since its earliest days, Route 66 has represented something greater than a strip of pavement. It has evolved from a connector of communities to a connector to our history and our future. Getting there took intentional efforts by people who believed in something greater than themselves; people who were willing to make their voices heard, which is exactly what we do when we show up to vote.
A civil servant named Cyrus Avery in Tulsa, Oklahoma, had the original idea: a single highway that connected Chicago to the Pacific Ocean. He believed it could be the strongest commercial corridor in the country: the gateway to the American West and the pathway to opportunity. But he didn’t do it alone. Through advocacy, coalitions and compromises, the road came together for the greater good. But it didn’t emerge fully formed. It took continued engagement for decades to build the road into the symbol it eventually became.
Elections work much the same way. They are a chance to hear bold ideas, consider different plans for moving Oklahoma forward and help shape the future. Just as Route 66 was built through collaboration and civic engagement, we can advocate for the ideas we believe in — using our vote as our voice.
Today, Route 66 is a cherished national icon that appeals to an international audience. It encourages travelers to slow down, enjoy the journey and connect with people along the way. It is a century old, but new stories are being written on the roadside every day. Oklahoma’s future will be written the same way — not all at once, but over time by people who choose to get involved. Those stories will be shaped by neighbors working together, communities investing in one another, and citizens participating in our democracy and choosing the leaders who will help guide our state forward.
It is easy to see Route 66 today as something that has always been there. Overcoming challenges has been part of its history, and the road now thrives because of the efforts of passionate, dedicated advocates and the idea that one person can make a difference. When you step up to the ballot box to cast your vote, you have that same opportunity. Do not take it for granted — there is so much power in a single voice, and a single vote. Together we all have a role in the road ahead.
