A resolution requesting Governor Phil Bredesen, the Davidson County Delegation to the Tennessee General Assembly, and the Tennessee Department of Transportation to take the action necessary to rename State Route 840 in honor of Wilma Rudolph.

WHEREAS, Wilma Rudolph, who was born on June 23, 1940 in Clarksville, Tennessee, overcame the crippling polio disease to be one of the fastest women that ever lived; and

WHEREAS, Wilma Rudolph competed in the 1957 Olympics at the age of 16 where she won a bronze medal in the 4x100 meter relay; and

WHEREAS, after high school, Wilma Rudolph was granted a full track scholarship to Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee, where she excelled on and off the track, and ultimately received her bachelor of education in 1963; and

WHEREAS, Wilma Rudolph sprinted to three gold medals at the 1960 summer Olympics in Rome, Italy, becoming the first woman from the United States to win three gold medals in one Olympics; and

WHEREAS, Interstate 840 is a four-lane controlled access highway that will eventually stretch from the I-40 interchange in Wilson County to the I-40 interchange in Dickson County; and

WHEREAS, in light of Wilma Rudolph's outstanding achievements and the recognition they have brought to the state of Tennessee, it is fitting and proper that State Route 840 be named in her honor.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as requesting Governor Phil Bredesen, the Davidson County Delegation to the Tennessee General Assembly, and the Tennessee Department of Transportation to take the action necessary to rename State Route 840 in honor of Wilma Rudolph.

Section 2. The Metropolitan Clerk is directed to send a copy of this Resolution to Governor Phil Bredesen, to each member of the Davidson County Delegation to the Tennessee General Assembly, and to Gerald Nicely, the Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

Section 3. That this Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Ludye Wallace