How about that Super Bowl!
Peyton Manning Parkway would be a great new name for Ooltewah-Ringgold Road.
R. J. Johnson
johnsontheair@yahoo.com
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While I share Mr. Johnson's glee at Peyton Manning quarterbacking the Colts to a Super Bowl victory, I hardly agree with re-naming Ooltewah-Ringgold Road after the former University of Tennessee player.
Perhaps we should re-name Ooltewah-Ringggold Road after A.C. "Bud" Ball - a person who promoted Ooltewah and gave unselfishly to area schools for years and years. Or maybe we should name the road Fred Fuller Parkway - after Collegedale's first mayor and current commissioner. Under Mr. Fuller's guidance, Collegedale has become a first-rate, small city in this area.
Of course, we could also re-name Ooltewah-Ringgold Road the Bucky McCulley Pass - after this area's number one organizer of youth sports. And let's not rule out the John Turner Freeway - named after the current mayor of Collegedale. His leadership and vision led to the construction of a local Wal-Mart.
And the obvious choice for a new name for Ooltewah-Ringgold Road is McKee Drive. No explanation needed.
Yes, Peyton Manning is a good quarterback and fine fellow. However, he's not a Collegedallian or Ooltewahian.
But re-naming the road is a good idea. After, of course, one of our own.
Steve Ray
Ooltewah
steveray@comcast.net
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One thing you learn in advertising is not to mess with what is good and working. In the Ooltewah area the most well known point of location is Ooltewah-Ringgold Rd.
Take the case of the phone merger, they are keeping the name AT&T. Why? Simple, name recognition.
Payton has some tie here but even as great as he is he is not homegrown.
If Mr. Ray and others want to change the name of their street or road, fine. Just leave our road alone, please.
Nick Kennedy Sr.
Ooltewah
n_kennedy@bellsouth.net
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I have read and heard with great confusion the desire of some to name a major thoroughfare in our area to "Peyton Manning Boulevard." This is a football player that does not live here (maybe he owns property here, I don't know), was not educated here, and has done very little to my knowledge to contribute to our city/county except make people excited playing football--a game.
I have never understood accolades for sports figures and the passion to name streets after them here in Chattanooga or elsewhere, but if that in fact is the ultimate honor, I have a suggestion:
Name a road after Luther.
As a broadcaster for over 25 years, unemployed in that arena not withstanding for me, Luther has done more for residents, worked for over 65 years on the air helping people relentlessly, and is a darn good guy that has garnered national recognition in a business that this city sees TV and radio people come and go.
Who else is an icon born here, brought up here, stayed here and remains here? Actually, who else is an icon that is here?
I am sure Luther would be the first one to shun this idea. But instead of honoring the quarterback from the winning Super Bowl team, wouldn't we rather tell a contributor to this area that we appreciate respect, admire, and love him? Believe me, to survive in the media craziness in this city for six years, much less 65, should be honored in itself.
I always remind people of his longevity and history by telling them that Luther informed Chattanoogans of the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 while on the air.
Peyton Manning may be able to throw a ball, or whatever it is he does, and I think that's fine. But if we're going to start naming streets after citizens, I think we should start with Luther.
Parker Smith
parkersmith29@yahoo.com
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It is so disgusting to continue to hear from obnoxious Tennessee fans about Peyton Manning. He is a football player.
He is not a war hero, a rescuer of school children on a burning bus, I don't think he has contributed to the homeless shelter or the McKamey animal shelter. He doesn't live here nor never will. He couldn't beat Florida. He was punished at Tennessee for mooning a female reporter, proud of that I guess, but what if that had been your sister or daughter?
Yea, let’s name a street after someone who couldn't care less. I'm sure he would come here from Indy to see it. Maybe he'll moon Little Debbie.
Carlos Dempsey
Signal Mountain
tidefancd@msn.com