Reps. Lawson-Rowe Passes Memorial Highway Designations

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Meredith Lawson-Rowe (D-Reynoldsburg) today announced the unanimous passage of House Bill 451 and House Bill 738, both highway naming memorial dedications, by the Ohio House of Representatives.

“I am pleased to announce the passage of these designations which now head to the Governor,” said Rep. Lawson-Rowe. “Corporal Mitchell and Private First Class Dixon embody the best of House District 5, people who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. These tributes are just a small retribution to the debt we owe these men who gave their all for our individual and collective freedoms. However, their names will now live on in perpetuity on portions of two of my district’s busiest interstates.”

House Bill 451, sponsored by Reps. Lawson-Rowe and Jeff LaRe (R-Violet Twp.), designates a portion of Interstate 70 in Franklin and Fairfield Counties as “CPL Lindsey William Mitchell Memorial Highway.” Mitchell was a native and resident of Reynoldsburg who was killed in action in North Korea in 1951.

House Bill 738, sponsored by Reps. Lawson-Rowe and Adam Holmes (R-Nashport), designates a portion of Interstate 270 in Franklin County as “PFC Chris Dixon Memorial Highway.” Dixon was a native and resident of Obetz who was killed in action in Iraq in 2005.

Both bills were amended into Senate Bill 52 as part of an omnibus of road naming designations and special license plates. Senate Bill 52 was unanimously passed by the House on Tuesday and now heads over to the desk of Governor Mike DeWine for his signature.