My family and I thoroughly enjoyed “Clout on a Plate” (Jan. 17), but you might like to know that my late father, Robert B. Lamkin, and our family have owned the zero (0) license plate for more than 25 years. My father, who was at one time the vice president of Illinois Central Industries, resigned to build Lamkinland, which was one of the largest dairy farms in the country. He was appointed by Richard Ogilvie to chair the St. Louis Metropolitan Area Airport Authority. He was also a close friend of John Lewis. My father had always wanted a low license plate number and when Mr. Lewis became secretary of state, he offered my father the number 1, but my father thought that one less would be even better. Whenever someone would comment on his plate and say, “You must be someone important,” my dad would reply, “No, I’m just nothin.’ “
After my father died, my mother had the license on her 1989 Mercury Cougar, of which she recently transferred ownership to me. Today, my father’s grandsons proudly drive her car with the zero plate still in evidence.
— NANCY LAMKIN OLSON, Chicago
Just as I suspected. Those low-numbered license plates are politically motivated. There isn’t any harm to the idea, but it does indicate that there sure are some king- and queen-size egos out there. I also noticed the cars–in almost every case–were luxury models of a prestigious manufacture that complemented the low license number. Might as well flaunt it–and hope St. Peter will be impressed.
— CARL SIEGEL, Carol Stream
My plate contains both the lowest letter and the lowest number. Let me explain. My father, Claude W. Cranford, in his high school days, learned Morse code at the Western Union office in Litchfield, Ill. In retirement in Missouri, Dad had a personal license plate which read “DIT DAW.” He died in 1992. My license plate in his memory is “DIT DAW 1.” Dit daw in Morse code is dot dash for “A.” Translated, my plate is A1.
— RICHARD A. CRANFORD, Peru, Ill.
While your article on rare and important Illinois license plates was interesting, the only license plate I ever saw that was truly rare and truly important was one whose symbol read: “Medal of Honor.”
— DR. ROBERT D. GELLER, Freeport, Ill.
I found your article on prestige license plates very interesting, but it seems to me that some of the plate holders should go through a periodic sniff test to see if they are still squeaky clean.
— MARK SULKIN, Hoffman Estates
My plates, bought at a currency exchange, came up reading “BUM 173.” I guess I must have reverse clout.
— RICHARD PETERSON, Chicago
GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT
I cannot get out of my mind the hauntingly beautiful photographs that appeared with the Food/Market article “A World of Choices” (Jan. 17). What first caught my attention was the small inset photograph of what looked like an alien life form. It was a cluster of oyster mushrooms. The full-page photograph was exquisite, incorporating the ingredients of the featured recipes. The arrangement was ingenious, the lighting serene. I have saved the photograph to be framed and hung in my kitchen.
— MARGARET A. EBERLY, Long Grove
In the early ’50s, I lived in a decrepit apartment, “the Roach Roost” on fashionable Astor Street, and had just acquired a mundane 3-year-old Plymouth. It bore a plate number similar to 2705836 or some such, with no numbers contiguous, consecutive or repetitive.
In applying for tags the next year, I requested something easier to remember. The new ones arrived in a few weeks. I was awarded 1001, with a personal note enclosed, which read: “Think you can handle this one, Einstein?”
— JACK GOGGIN, Lincolnshire
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