A look back at the conference

Lincoln Highway Association Field Secretary Russell Rein, left, talks to author Michael Owen, right, about the Henry B. Joy Monument that was once located at the Continental Divide in Sweetwater County, Wyoming.
Gregory R.C. Hasman Photo

Note: Before I start, I want to thank the 2019 Lincoln Highway Association Conference committee, especially Lincoln Highway Association Field Secretary Russell Rein, for helping me put together the conference. In Rein's case, he did a lot, if not most, of the heavy lifting. This was the first event of this magnitude to be involved in putting together and if it weren't for his expertise in running a show, and getting things together, especially with getting the hotels reserved and event lunch/dinner menus ready, this event would likely not be a good one.

Getting things ready for the 2019 Lincoln Highway Association Conference in Sweetwater County, Wyoming, which ran from June 18-21, is one thing, seeing it executed is another. That said, meeting people from across the country whether they live in Lincoln Highway communities or not, listening to local legislators talk about the Lincoln Highway or seeing guests enjoy themselves on tours or having a beverage and talking about their travels or hometowns, made this a memorable event.

The first day was on June 18 when it was about setting things up and making sure people were registered. Standing behind a table at the Holiday Inn giving guests their badges and goodie bags, which consisted of several items including post cards that Rein made and the conference booklet he laid out, was a nerve racking experience. It quickly taught me to get over my nerves of meeting total strangers, but it was not the last time I would be nervous or tense as some attendees would note.

On the tours, which consisted of stops at the Fort Steele State Historic Site, Sinclair and Point of Rocks to the east, and Evanston, Fort Bridger State Historic Site and Lyman to the west, many laughed when they told me that trying to get people to come back from straying attendees looking to explore is like corralling stray cats, but who could blame them there is so much to see along or near the Lincoln Highway in Wyoming.

Among the tour stops during the conference was to look at a Lincoln Highway concrete post at its original location in Lyman.
Gregory R.C. Hasman Photo

There are many, many people to thank including: The rest of the conference committee consisting of Rein, Jerry Peppers, Bill Von Tagen,  Brian Suen, Bob Beaudoin and LHA President Kay Shelton-Kozak. I am also appreciative of Sweetwater County state representatives JoAnn Dayton-Selman, John Freeman, Stan Blake, Senator Fred Baldwin and Rock Springs City Councilman David Tate for speaking at the welcome dinner. Thank you also goes out to John Triplett for being the other bus' tour guide and to the various vendors including the Alliance for Historic Wyoming for setting up in the bookroom.

The speakers also made this a great event whether it was listening to the sounds of Nolan Stolz's musical masterpieces about the Lincoln Highway or hear Mark Mowbray preach about another auto road that preceded the two-lane highway and interstate, the Yellowstone Trail.

Appreciation goes out to Steve Horn with Wyoming State Parks and for giving an educated tour of the Fort Fred Steele Historic Site, to Sinclair Baptist Church Secretary Terry Schultz for generously giving a tour of the Parco Hotel, now a Baptist church, to Ed Varley for taking his time to give a talk at the Point of Rocks Stage Station about the Lincoln Highway and other forms of transportation that ran through the area.

The Fort Fred Steele Historic Site was a great stop on the conference's east tour.
Gregory R.C. Hasman Photo

I also am thankful for attendees who made me look good as a tour guide, though all I did was tell people where we would go. It was the people at the stops who did the rest.

 

LHA President Kay Shelton-Kozak, left, presents Fort Bridger State Historic Site Superintendent Linley Mayer, right, with a Friends of the Highway award during the west tour.
Gregory R.C. Hasman Photo

I know I am missing some names and for that I am sorry.

A 1958 Studebaker Silver Hawk graced the Lincoln Highway during the conference.
Gregory R.C. Hasman Photo

This was more of an appreciation blog just to show my appreciation for those helped me put together the conference, but, it was the right thing to do.

Oh yeah, I received LHA director of the year, which would not have been possible without the aforementioned help I received.

For more photos from the event go to the conference's Facebook page.