TITLE
Title
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE NAMING OF A SECTION OF NC INTERSTATE 85 IN MEMORY OF JOHN HOWARD COBLE
end
SPONSOR
Sponsor
Vice Chairman Alan Branson
end
BACKGROUND
Background
Pursuant to NCGS 136.18(8), the North Carolina Board of Transportation may name roads, bridges or ferries in honor of individuals who have made notable local, state and/or national contributions, and/or have significant accomplishments. While the Guilford County Board of Commissioners originally adopted a comparable resolution supporting the naming of a section of NC Interstate 85 in memory of Congressman Howard Coble on December 3, 2015, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) criteria for road naming requests require the supporting resolution be effective at least one (1) year from the date of the individual's passing. In light of strong family and community support for this recognition, the Board of Commissioners reiterates its determination to honor Congressman Coble by formally requesting the NCDOT name the portion of NC Highway 85 that intersects his childhood home as a memorial to former United States House Representative for the Sixth Congressional District, John Howard Coble.
end
RESOLUTION
Resolution
WHEREAS, the Honorable John Howard Coble was born on March 18, 1931, in Greensboro, North Carolina and died at the age of 84 on November 3, 2015; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Coble, a lifelong resident of Guilford County, was raised by his father, Joseph Howard Coble, who started his career as a janitor and rose to become manager of a local department store, and his mother, Johnnie E. (Holt) Coble, who worked in a textile factory; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Coble attended Appalachian State University, Guilford College and the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Law, served in the U.S. Coast Guard for five years and remained as a reserve officer for an additional twenty-two years, where he achieved the rank of Captain; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Coble was an assistant federal prosecutor, state revenue secretary and state legislator before his initial 1984 congressional victory; where he went on to proudly serve for thirty years representing the Sixth Congressional District; and
WHEREAS, Congressman Coble became one of the most well-known and beloved representatives of the citizens of North Carolina; often seen wearing a fedora and a madras-patched sports jacket, he was proud of his accessibility to voters, noting his participation in more than 200 local Christmas parades and 200 Eagle Scout ceremonies; and
WHEREAS, Congressman Coble was respected for his honesty and integrity, known for his personability and conservative advocacy, loved for his humility and accountability, and fought admirably for small businesses and agriculture; and
WHEREAS, the childhood home of Congressman Coble, located off of Alamance Church Road, was intersected by North Carolina Interstate 85 in the spirit of progress and improvement of local infrastructure for Guilford County citizens. And, in turn for his lifelong commitment to public service and his innumerable personal sacrifices, the residents of Guilford County wish to honor and thank Mr. Coble through the naming of this tract of highway.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the County of Guilford does hereby request the North Carolina Department of Transportation name a portion of Interstate 85, from Interstate 40 to Alamance Church Road, in memory of John Howard Coble, and that appropriate signage be placed designating the site.
ADOPTED this 20th day of October, 2016 to become effective the 4th day of November 2016.
end
REQUESTED ACTION
Requested Action
Adopt resolution supporting the naming of a section of NC Interstate 85 in memory of the Honorable Congressman John Howard Coble, to be effective November 4, 2016 and authorize staff to complete necessary application documents for final submission to North Carolina Department of Transportation.
end