One of the reasons I didn't participate in the rally myself was that I would not be around at its conclusion. Instead, I would be enjoying the company of friends over linner. Laurel Kane had not been at her restored DX station in Afton, Oklahoma, when I passed through that area and we had been working on a meeting. 4:00 at a point almost precisely halfway between Afton and Muskogee was it. I was able to get back to Muskogee in time for the conference but I fear Laurel missed her beloved Kentucky Derby. I'm certainly glad I got to visit with both her and good friend Ron McCoy and I hope the Derby withdrawal wasn't too bad. "Linner", by the way, was Laurel's name for our twixt lunch and dinner meal.

I often leave my seat during events like this to grab pictures of speakers or other items of interest. Tonight I somehow picked what was probably the only seat where that was not possible. First off, I was next to one of the speakers of the other sort. The soundboard was behind me. That would not have been a huge problem except that, as soon as the electronic speakers were brought into play, the fellow operating the soundboard took a seat immediately behind me. I could not move about without going over someone or something so all, save one, of my photos were taken by leaning forward and shooting around the speaker cabinet.

The first individual picture is of Conference Chairman Glen Smith. The second is of Muskogee Mayor Bob Coburn who also spoke on Thursday. My one and only unobstructed shot was of Loring Miller who embedded his plea for support of a documentary project inside a one song musical. The last photo is of the featured speaker, Michael Wallis of Route 66 and Cars fame. Every body did a great job. The banquet and just about every other aspect of the conference was very well done and the people of Muskogee couldn't have been nicer.