19/03/2025
Angel Delgadillo is a folk hero. He’s dubbed the Angel of Route 66, hailed as the hero who saved Seligman, and celebrated as the founder of the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona.
Really, he’s a man who loves his family, loves his town, and loves people. He’s a gentle-spirited retired barber who still gets around very well (and quickly) at the ripe age of 97. He still owns his barbershop, which is now a museum and a gift shop, and is selling handmade birdhouses to raise funds for new signage in town. Angel was born at the dawn of the Great Depression, learning from a young age to work hard, work together, and use what you have to get the job done.
Seligman was erased from public view during the late '70s at the completion of I-40, and it left the town in the dark for 10 long years. During those years, Angel, his brothers, and local business owners all got to work to advocate for their town and restore the historical value of Route 66.
When Seligman was restored, the townsfolk celebrated with a big party where the streets were lit with neon lights, and celebrants cruised their cars throughout the town. All of these events were the inspiration for the plot and setting of Pixar’s Cars. Now that I’ve seen the town and met Angel in the flesh, I feel like the film is a fitting tribute. (Though it does draw inspiration from a variety of Route 66 landmarks.)
Angel has been interviewed by folks way more qualified than me, featured in numerous documentaries, has a PBS special airing soon, and has been decorated with some very lovely awards. Yet, he still has time for a chat with those who take an interest in traveling to his town. He gave my son a beautiful piece of advice: “You know, you can do anything you want in this world, but there’s only one person who can really try to stop you, and that’s you. Don’t ever let yourself stop. Keep going.”
If you’d like to learn more about Angel, check out this link: https://www.route66giftshop.com/the-angel-of-route-66/