A stretch of U.S. 30 in Plymouth could be renamed next year if a resolution passes in the General Assembly.
State Representative Jack Jordan was before the Plymouth City Council members Monday night to ask for the council’s endorsement of a resolution that would rename U.S. 30 from Pine Road to Oak Road to “Ralph ‘Ray’ Reed Memorial Drive”.
Ralph “Ray” Reed, a prominent Plymouth and Marshall County resident, was on duty as an Indiana State Police Master Motor Carrier Inspector on Aug. 3, 1995 when he stopped to inspect a semi tractor-trailer on U.S. 30 and was struck and killed by an oncoming semi hauling cattle.
A current memorial marker can be seen on the north side of U.S. 30 east of Oak Road near where the incident occurred.
State Representative Jack Jordan explained that the process of renaming a portion of highway is rather extensive.
“Every year there’s five opportunities to get a state highway named between the House and the Senate, so there are 150 folks who are trying to potentially get things named,” said Jordan. “There are dozens and dozens every session. This time around we went to the commissioners to get a letter of support (which was approved) and now we’re asking you to support his resolution and sending it on to the General Assembly.”
Council members Bill Walters and Gary Cook and Mayor Mark Senter all spoke of Reed’s community-minded spirit and positive effects of his work ethic before the council considered the vote. Plymouth F.O.P. President Hurshel Hunter, retired ISP officer Dave Lattimer and ISP trooper Mike Gruett encouraged the council to support the resolution.
The resolution was passed with a unanimous vote. The recording of the vote and a letter support will accompany paperwork to be filed with the state legislature for consideration.
