Executive director and CEO of the Route 66 Alliance, Ken Busby has been heavily involved with Tulsa’s art and nonprofit scenes for decades. He previously served as executive director of the Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa; the director of development for Tulsa Zoo Friends; and the director of communication for Gilcrease Museum. A Tulsa native and University of Tulsa alum, Busby also chaired the Tulsa Performing Arts Center Trust and the Arts Education Advisory Council of Americans for the Arts, alongside serving on the executive committees of the Tulsa Symphony and Workforce Tulsa. We caught up with Busby and got his thoughts on …
… the mission and objectives of the Route 66 Alliance.
The Route 66 Alliance, headquartered in Tulsa, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation founded in 2009 by Michael Wallis, the voice of “The Sheriff” in Disney/Pixar’s Cars. It is dedicated to the preservation, promotion and enhancement of historic Route 66 – past, present and future. The Alliance supports the efforts of organizations and people in each of the eight states through which Route 66 travels to preserve and promote historic sites, architecture, institutions, merchants and attractions that touch the lives of thousands of people from around the world who travel the 2,448-mile historic highway each year.
… what drew him to this job.
I have spent my career in nonprofits. Having established the Any Given Child arts education program at the Arts & Humanities Council of Tulsa and having overseen the design of, fundraising for and construction of the Hardesty Arts Center in the Tulsa Arts District, I was ready for my next adventure. Michael Wallis asked if I would be the executive director of his Route 66 nonprofit, and the timing was perfect.
… what he wants people to know about the Alliance.
As a small nonprofit with a large presence, it’s a lot of work managing the day-to-day operations. We have a dedicated board of directors, but even with a mission as engaging as it is, fundraising is always a challenge with so many needs in the community. Fortunately, we do have a very generous community. And we have incredible partners like VisitTulsa and the Tulsa Regional Chamber that have totally embraced Route 66 as a tourism and economic engine for Tulsa. That helps us do our work even more successfully.
… his proudest accomplishments to date.
Two in particular were at Gilcrease Museum and the Arts & Humanities Council of Tulsa. At Gilcrease, it was the Thomas Moran Exhibition in 1997 when I was communication director. We completed a major renovation of our special exhibition galleries to accommodate three large Thomas Moran paintings in particular: – “Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone,” “Chasm of the Colorado” and “Mountain of the Holy Cross.” These three paintings, originally conceived as a triptych, had never been displayed together on one wall as Moran had envisioned. We accomplished that in Tulsa – along with welcoming 149,414 visitors over the 13-week run of the exhibition. It was incredible!
My second favorite moment was the nine-year effort from concept, to design, to programming, to fundraising, to construction of what would become the Hardesty Arts Center in the Tulsa Arts District. Amazing board, staff, architects, construction team and donors made this an exhilarating effort that created an incredible facility that is fulfilling its original purpose today under the auspices of The University of Tulsa. 101 Archer is delivering on our vision and serving this community as originally intended.
… an average day on the job.
My day-to-day routine is never the same twice, which I love! This position allows me to work across the country to celebrate the most iconic road in America with a truly international appeal! Every day I’m meeting tourists, making connections, giving presentations and working closely with Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell, the best advocate our state has ever had, to showcase Route 66.
… Route 66’s centennial.
I serve on the Tulsa Route 66 Commission and the Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission. Coordinating with these entities, the Route 66 Alliance is working on several Centennial projects, including the annual AAA Route 66 Road Fest and the closing festivities on November 11, 2026 – the actual 100th birthday of Route 66. I’m chairing this event where we will be honoring Veterans with a motorcycle rally, celebrating the key movers and shakers behind Route 66’s success and launching the next 100 years of the Mother Road!
… his love of T-Town.
It’s an honor to serve my community through my work and volunteer efforts. I love Tulsa! And I love sharing Tulsa with the world!
