On Saturday, June 12, 2021, a section of State Route 371 in Itawamba County was designated as the Jeff Boren Memorial Highway in honor of fallen worker Jeff Boren.
The memorial highway begins a half-mile north of the Ozark Baptist Church Road intersection and stretches a half-mile south of the intersection.
Boren worked as a construction manager for the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT). He was killed in 2019 while working along Interstate 22.
“Trying to put feelings into words seems to fall short when considering Jeff’s ultimate sacrifice and the grief of family and friends,” said Commissioner John Caldwell, Northern Transportation District. “No one leaves for work with that in mind, but the level of commitment is great every day. Our challenge today is to honor Jeff’s legacy, remember his life and sacrifice with a renewed commitment to prevent similar heartbreaks in the hours and days ahead of us.”
On Monday, the Speaker William J. ‘Billy’ McCoy Memorial Highway was dedicated at Gaston Baptist Church in Booneville.
During the 2020 Legislative Session, H.B. No. 499 was signed into law. The bill states, “The segment of U.S. Highway 45 in Alcorn County and Prentiss County, Mississippi, beginning one (1) mile north of the intersection of U.S. Highway 45 and Mississippi Highway 356 and ending two (2) miles south of the intersection of U.S. Highway 45 and Mississippi Highway 356, is designated as the ‘Speaker William J. ‘Billy’ McCoy Memorial Highway.”
McCoy was first elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives in 1979 and was elected Speaker of the House in 2004. He served in the House for 32 consecutive years. He passed away on November 12, 2019 at the age of 77.
Northern District Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley spoke at the dedication and shared the following photos.
