Commissioners support renaming highway after Kyle and Littlefield

ELLIS COUNTY — The Ellis County Commissioners' Court voted unanimously on Monday to pass a resolution supporting efforts to rename a portion of U.S. Highway 287 in Midlothian to Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield Memorial Highway.

State Representative John Wray, R-Waxahachie, filed legislation, H.B. 1187 on Feb. 5 to rename a portion of U.S. Highway 287 in Midlothian from Rex Odom Drive and Kimble Drive to Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield Highway.

Wray's bill was referred to the Defense & Veteran's Affairs committee on Mar. 3.

State Senator Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, filed a companion bill, S.B. 527, on Feb. 10 to rename the same segment of highway the Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield Memorial Highway.

With a unanimous vote on Mar. 6, Birdwell's bill passed out out of the Senate committee on Transportation.

The resolution passed by the Ellis County Commissioners' Court on Monday reads:

WHEREAS, Ellis County desires to support H.B. 1187, which would designate the portion of U.S. Highway 287 in Midlothian between its intersection which Red Odom Drive and its intersection with Kimble Road to the Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield Memorial Highway; and

WHEREAS, Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield devoted themselves to assisting war veterans suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder and helping those veterans make the adjustment back to everyday life; and

WHEREAS, Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield leave behind a legacy of good citizenship, and therefore this community has sustained a great loss in their untimely deaths; and

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ellis County Commissioners' Court supports H.B. 1187, which would officially name the portion of U.S. Highway 287 in the City of Midlothian between its intersection with Red Odom Drive and its intersection with Kimble Road, the Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield Memorial Highway, and that this change in name shall not become effective until September 1, 2015, so as to provide sufficient time for street sign changes.