Sen. Gumm Wins Committee Passage for Bill Honoring Local Soldiers Lost in the War on Terror

February 12th, 2010

 OKLAHOMA CITY – State Sen. Jay Paul Gumm has secured committee approval for legislation to honor three soldiers from Senate District 6 who paid the ultimate price in America’s War on Terror.

Gumm said his legislation honors the memory and service of Corporal Michael Eyre Thompson, Sergeant Clint E. Williams and Chief Warrant Officer Brady Rudolf.

“This past week, hundreds of Oklahoma Veterans from all across our state came to the Capitol to be honored and to visit with the legislators.  This yearly event always a moving experience for me and a chance to thank them for their service and sacrifice on behalf of our nation,” said Gumm.

“But it also saddened me to know that there are some individuals from this district who will never have a chance to be honored at the Capitol for their service, because they sacrificed their very lives while deployed in the War on Terror.  But what we can do is honor their memory, and that’s what I want to accomplish with Senate Bill 1713.”

Gumm, a Democrat from Durant explained that under SB 1713, a section of State Highway 32, beginning in Kingston to the Intersection of State Highway 377 in Madill would be designated as the “Corporal Michael Eyre Thompson Memorial Highway.”

A portion of U.S. Highway 377 from Madill to the Oklahoma State line would be designated as the “Sergeant Clint E. Williams Memorial Highway.”

A section of U.S. Highway 70 east from the Bryan County line east to the City of Durant limits would be designated as the “Chief Warrant Officer Brady Rudolf Memorial Highway.”

“I’ve been working with family members of these men and I want to thank them for their help on this legislation,” Gumm said.

“It is my hope that when people are driving on these stretches of road and see the markers bearing the names of these soldiers, people will think of them and remember their sacrifices and those of so many other soldiers and families who’ve given so much on behalf of their fellow Americans.”

Gumm’s legislation now moves to the full Senate for further consideration.

« Back to Articles