Burkley testifies on highway naming bill

Ohio legislative information

COLUMBUS — State Representative Tony Burkley (R-Payne) provided sponsor testimony Wednesday on legislation that would designate a portion of highway in Paulding County after a local military hero who was killed during a shootout in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 2015.

Ohio legislative information

COLUMBUS — State Representative Tony Burkley (R-Payne) provided sponsor testimony Wednesday on legislation that would designate a portion of highway in Paulding County after a local military hero who was killed during a shootout in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 2015.

House Bill 406 would name the portion of U.S. 127 stretching from the northern edge of Paulding to the intersection of with Ohio 111 in Paulding County as the “U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith Memorial Highway.”

Born in Paulding in 1989 and a graduate of Paulding High School, Smith was shot while protecting his fellow servicemen on July 18 during an ambush at a recruiting center in Chattanooga. He died two days later.

“It is my hope that once enacted, this highway designation will serve as a reminder to those passing by how precious life is and to appreciate the heroes we have,” said Representative Burkley.

After serving for three years as an active duty logistics specialist with the U.S. Navy, Smith re-enlisted and was stationed at the Naval Operations Support Center in Chattanooga. There, he was responsible for training and transporting active duty naval personnel.

The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee must vote House Bill 406 out of committee before it can be heard on the House floor.

House Bill 406 would name the portion of U.S. 127 stretching from the northern edge of Paulding to the intersection of with Ohio 111 in Paulding County as the “U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith Memorial Highway.”

Born in Paulding in 1989 and a graduate of Paulding High School, Smith was shot while protecting his fellow servicemen on July 18 during an ambush at a recruiting center in Chattanooga. He died two days later.

“It is my hope that once enacted, this highway designation will serve as a reminder to those passing by how precious life is and to appreciate the heroes we have,” said Representative Burkley.

After serving for three years as an active duty logistics specialist with the U.S. Navy, Smith re-enlisted and was stationed at the Naval Operations Support Center in Chattanooga. There, he was responsible for training and transporting active duty naval personnel.

The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee must vote House Bill 406 out of committee before it can be heard on the House floor.