Monday, July 15, 2007

Lincoln Highway Association Elects New National Officers and Directors

The newly elected LHA officers. From left to right: Bob Lichty (Executive Advisor), Sue Jacobsen (Secretary), Russ Rein (Vice-President), Jan Shupert-Arick (President), and Jess Petersen (Treasurer). [Click to enlarge]

At its 15th annual conference just held in Colorado, the Lincoln Highway Association (LHA) elected new national officers and new state directors for Indiana and California.

Dedicated in 1913, the Lincoln Highway was America’s first coast-to-coast improved highway. Still linking New York and San Francisco by 3,400 miles of road, the Lincoln Highway follows U.S. Routes 1, 30, 40, and 50, and other scenic two-lane roads. The LHA was formed in 1992, and has chapters in all 12 states along the Lincoln Highway.

The mission of the Lincoln Highway Association is to preserve and improve access to the Lincoln Highway, facilitate research and publications about the Highway, and work with local communities and merchants to promote the Highway as a tourism destination.

Elected LHA President was Jan Shupert-Arick of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, while Russell Rein of Ypsilanti, Michigan was elected Vice-President. Two serving officers were re-elected: Secretary Sue Jacobsen of Aurora, Illinois and Treasurer Jesse Petersen of Tooele, Utah. Immediate Past President Robert Lichty of Canton, Ohio was named Executive Advisor.

Ms. Shupert-Arick formerly was the LHA’s Vice-President and the Indiana director. She co-organized the 2003 national conference and a 2006 symposium on highway tourism promotion. She has extensive experience in historical museums and arts administration. Mr. Rein is a notable collector and student of the Lincoln Highway’s history, and is the editor of the LHA’s electronic newsletter and webmaster of the Indiana chapter website.

Succeeding Ms. Shupert-Arick as the Indiana director is Ken Locke of Warsaw, Indiana. Mr. Locke conducts Lincoln Highway preservation projects with local Boy Scout troops, and grew up along the Lincoln Highway. California director Robert Dieterich resides in Fair Oaks, California. He is co-author of a book on the Lincoln Highway in California, and currently serves as the chairman of the Association’s Endowment Fund Committee.

In addition to the newly-elected officers and directors, these directors continue to serve on the board:

• Mindy Higgins, Pennsylvania director, Hanover, PA
• Marie Malernee, Ohio director, Canton, OH
• Kay Shelton, Illinois director, DeKalb, IL
• Jeff LaFollette, Iowa director, Davenport, IA
• Lenore Stubblefield, Nebraska director, Shelton, NE
• Randy Moore, Wyoming director, Cheyenne, WY
• Alan Stockland, Utah director, Ogden, UT
• Geno Oliver, Nevada director, Reno, NV
• Olga Herbert, at-large director, Ligonier, PA
• James Peters, at-large director, Sudbury, MA
• Russell Rein, at-large director, Ypsilanti, MI

Elections will be held for some directors at the 2008 LHA conference in Evanston, WY.