The Spirit pulls into Carl’s Corner, Texas, where frogs once danced

For the second of three stops in Texas, OOIDA’s touring trailer is scheduled to pull in at Carl’s Corner, Texas.

Jon Osburn plans to guide The Spirit of the American Trucker to the Carl’s Corner/Bill Ater Jr. Petro truck stop at Exit 374 off I-35E in Carl’s Corner, near Hillsboro, Texas.

The Spirit is scheduled to be there May 13-14.

After that, The Spirit heads to Warriors Weekend XII in Victoria, Texas, on May 17-19.

Warrior’s Weekend is an annual fishing event for wounded military personnel with an emphasis on those wounded in the global war on terrorism. Warrior’s Weekend began in 2007. Jon says it is a great event, and he looks forward to being there. He plans to give Truckers for Troops items to give away there.

As some of you may know, the Carl’s Corner/Bill Ater Jr. Petro truck stop used to be Willie’s Place. Before that, it was a renowned truck stop named Carl’s Corner.

Carl’s Corner was opened in 1984 by Carl Cornelius. It was a landmark truck stop with 10-foot-tall dancing frogs on the roof.

In 2006, a pal of Cornelius’s, country music outlaw Willie Nelson, took over the place, and it became a Willie Nelson-themed truck stop. It had a music shop, a 750-seat concert stage, and lots of Willie memorabilia. The fuel pumps had Willie’s self-branded biodiesel fuel, and the restaurant served Southern cuisine. Willie’s Place closed in 2011, and Petro took it over.

The Spirit’s stop before Carl’s Corner was in Terrell, Texas, which is east of Dallas.

Jon said education, and specifically OOIDA’s business classes for truckers, was top of mind of the truckers visiting with him.

“I’m having drivers come in to figure out how to sign up for the classes,” Jon said.

Since 2006, OOIDA has presented educational classes for the small business owner and the professional truck driver.It has been OOIDA’s continual mission to fight for the rights of all truckers through research and education. Let us know if you have any questions about the classes.

Whenever you see The Spirit tour truck, go say hello to Jon. He enjoys visiting about the Association’s activities and current issues. You also can join or renew your OOIDA membership for $10 off the regular price there. Also, you can get vouchers for flu, shingles and pneumonia vaccines from Jon at The Spirit.