Gary Sosniecki stopped by Lebanon Now to tell us all about how Lebanon and Laclede County will celebrate another chapter of Route 66 history this January as three remarkable names are added to the Laclede County Route 66 Wall of Fame. The Lebanon-Laclede County Route 66 Society has announced its 2026 class, honoring people whose stories, businesses and commitment helped define the character of Route 66 through our community.
The ceremony will be held Saturday, January 17, at the Cowan Civic Center in Lebanon. Everyone is welcome. A social hour begins at noon with a free chili and soup lunch, an annual tradition that brings together history lovers, Route 66 fans and local families.
Inductees are selected by a committee of seven members with strong knowledge of Route 66 history. Up to 40 nominations are considered each year. The final selections are made based on each nominee’s impact on the people, culture and spirit of Route 66 in Laclede County. A plaque will be given to a descendant of each honoree, and their names will join past inductees at the entrance of the Route 66 Museum inside the Lebanon-Laclede County Library.
Click Video Below to Watch Interview
This year’s inductees bring back memories of open-all-night service stations, scenic resort getaways, and a restaurant so unique that its most famous dish is still talked about decades later.
The 2026 honorees, listed alphabetically, reflect the heart of this community.
Onell Everett Carter and James Edward Lawson Sr.
For over 30 years, Carter and Lawson made sure travelers never had to wonder where they’d find fuel or service after dark. Their stations proudly advertised “We never close,” and that promise became part of their legacy. From their first location in 1935 to later operations in both Lebanon and Phillipsburg, their businesses helped define Route 66 as a place where travelers were welcomed day and night. Their station buildings, café and garage still stand as reminders of a time when hospitality meant keeping the lights on for anyone passing through.
Walter and Helen Dickinson
On a hill overlooking the Gasconade River, the Eden Resort became one of the shining jewels of Missouri’s stretch of Route 66. Built in the 1920s, the resort was designed as a peaceful haven for people wanting something more than a simple roadside stop. Walter “Dick” and Helen Dickinson took over the resort in the 1940s and turned it into a paradise for families, fishermen, and travelers. From the pine lodge dining room to river float trips arranged by Mr. Dickinson himself, the resort created memories that guests carried with them for a lifetime.
Andy Liebl
Andy Liebl brought charm and creativity to Route 66 with Andy’s Street Car Grill, a restaurant built from two retired street cars. When he purchased the business in 1949, he added his own unique touch, a signature dish of fried domestic rabbit that locals and travelers never forgot. His warm personality, playful marketing and welcoming spirit made the restaurant a Route 66 favorite. Even years after it closed, people still tell stories about Andy, his cooking and the joy his little street-car café brought to Lebanon.
This marks the fifth year of Wall of Fame inductions. Since 2022, the Route 66 Society has celebrated people whose determination, imagination and love for their community helped shape the identity of Route 66 here in Laclede County. Each class is a reminder of how much local history lives through the people who lived it.
The January ceremony is a chance for our community to gather, reminisce, and honor the legends who put Lebanon and Laclede County on the map of America’s most famous road.
Everyone is invited to share in the celebration, enjoy a warm meal, and take pride in the stories that continue to define our roots along Route 66.
Stay in touch with Lebanon Now:
Facebook
Interactive Facebook Group
Instagram
TikTok
To report a breaking news story, email ryan@lebanonmonow.com or text 417-493-8141.
If your pictures or story are used, I will pay $25. Submissions must be exclusive to Lebanon Now and not posted by you elsewhere.