Friday, May 1, 2026

Angel Delgadillo and 100th birthday of Route 66


 Historical League member Norma Jean Coulter reports, "Yesterday Diana, Dave Smith and I journeyed to Seligman for their 100th birthday of Route 66.  Of course Angel Delgadillo was the star of the show since he worked to get Historic Route 66 established."
Norma Jean Coulter enjoys the event with
2023 Arizona Historymaker Angel Delgadillo and wife Vilma


Diana Smith tells about the trip, "Dave and NJ enjoy a tasty Seligman Breakfast at the Road Kill Cafe -- complete with biscuits and gravy to accompany the eggs and bacon -- Happy Weekend. Great day, sun and sunshine with plenty of smiles all around. Vilma and Angel were the perfect honorees."



2025 Arizona Historymaker Bob Boze Bell as M.C.
















Diana updates, "Bob Boze Bell welcomed the crowd and told wonderful stories about his family and family's life on Route 66.























Robert Ballard and his wife Marilyn from Kingman met us in Seligman -- Robert serves on the AHS Campaign Committee and is a board member of the AHS chapter."



Congrats to Donna Gustafson, NHDAZ Teacher of the Year nominee, junior division.

Donna Gustafson has the best background to bring to her students! 

National History Day AZ is so fortunate to have her! No wonder she is a nominee for Junior Division NHDAZ Teacher of the Year


Donna Gustafson is a 7th and 8th-grade gifted Social Studies teacher in Chandler, Arizona, with 23 years of experience in education. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Arizona in Elementary Education with a minor in German, including time spent studying at the University of Bamberg in Germany. Donna continued her academic pursuits by completing a Master’s Degree in World War II Studies from Arizona State University in conjunction with the World War II Museum in New Orleans. She is also a Holocaust in Southeastern Europe Fellow at Harvard University and an author for NHD's Silent Heroes Program

As the wife of a naval officer, Donna has a firsthand appreciation for the sacrifices of service members and a deep interest in military history. This unique perspective, combined with her expertise in curriculum development, drives her passion for fostering critical thinking and a truthful understanding of history among her students. She is dedicated to preparing young scholars to become informed and engaged citizens ready to make their mark on the world. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling to Savannah to visit her now-senior child at the Savannah College of Art and Design, taking her service dog on long walks, riding her bike that goes nowhere, and cheering on her favorite basketball and football teams.