Adam-12 Memories: One Lunchbox, Two Legends

Some road trip stories take a while to come together.

This one took 23 years—and 820 miles in a single day.

A 400-Mile Mission

It started early—around 6 a.m.—with a road trip to Pittsburgh and the Steel City Con.

The goal?
Simple: get Kent McCord to sign a childhood Adam-12 lunchbox.

But this wasn’t just another autograph stop.

This was finishing something that started more than two decades ago.

Back to First Grade

The lunchbox goes all the way back to 1974.

First grade. Heather Hills.
Packed with PB&J, a thermos of tomato soup, and whatever made it through the day.

And on the front?
Adam-12.

At the time, it wasn’t nostalgia.
It was just everyday life.

Springfield, 2003: The First Signature

Fast forward to 2003.

At a Route 66 festival and car show in Springfield, Illinois, I met Martin Milner.

I brought the lunchbox.

Milner signed it.

Just like that, something ordinary became something worth holding onto.

The Missing Piece

For years, that lunchbox carried one signature.

But Adam-12 was never just one name.

Two partners. Two officers. Two halves of the story.

And one of them was still missing.

Steel City Con: Mission Accomplished

That changed at Steel City Con.

I made the drive—and it paid off.

Not only did Kent McCord sign the lunchbox…

He had time to talk.

For 10–15 minutes, we chatted—mostly about the Indy 500—but it easily could’ve gone longer.

“Great visit! He didn’t have many customers so we chatted for 10–15 minutes mainly about the Indy 500… mission accomplished!”

And just like that, the lunchbox was complete.

Worth Every Mile

“Way back in 2003, the late Martin Milner signed my Adam-12 lunchbox that I’ve had since 1st grade in 1974 at a car show in Springfield, Illinois. 23 years later, I was finally able to get his partner, Kent McCord, on it too… Well worth the 400 mile drive to finally get this done!”

An 820-Mile Day

And then—just like a true road trip—I pointed the car back home.

No hotel. No extended stay.

Just a long drive and a story finally finished.

“Back home after an 820 mile day. Should’ve stayed out, but too cheap to get a room. Great day!”

More Than an Autograph

This wasn’t really about signatures.

It was about time.

A lunchbox from a first-grade classroom…
a signature from 2003…
and another one, 23 years later, after an 820-mile day.

Same object. Same story.

Just finally complete.

The Road Has a Way of Bringing Things Back

Not every road trip is about discovering something new.

Sometimes, it’s about coming back to something you’ve had all along…

and realizing the story wasn’t over yet.

Hope you enjoyed the ride!

-Pat

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