KILLER HIGHWAY
Jerry Lee LewisApril 28, 2009
Jerry Lee Lewis "The Killer," has been honored by Tennessee lawmakers who, on Monday April 28th, 2009 voted to name a stretch of road in his honor.
A proposal unanimously approved Monday evening by the House designates a stretch of 'Getwell Road' in Shelby County, MS [home of Jerry Lee and Phoebe Lewis' Ranch in the Nesbit] as the "Jerry Lee Lewis Highway."
The section runs from the Mississippi state line to Interstate 240.
With daughter/manager, Phoebe Lewis, standing proudly by his side, Lewis addressed the House:
"It's not every day you get a street named after you. It's a great honor."nichopoulooza
Musician Jerry Lee Lewis, left, is honored by Rep. Curry Todd, R-Collierville, right, at the state Capitol on Monday as lawmakers unanimously voted to name a section of Getwell Road in Shelby County in Lewis' honor.
TENNESSEE
Jerry Lee Lewis, the piano-pounding rock 'n' roller known as "The Killer," was honored Monday evening as the Tennessee legislature voted to name a stretch of road in his honor.
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A proposal unanimously approved by the House designates a stretch of Getwell Road in Shelby County as the Jerry Lee Lewis Highway. The section runs from the Mississippi state line to Interstate 240.
"It's not every day you get a street named after you," said Lewis, known for hits such as "Great Balls of Fire." ''It's a great honor."
A companion bill unanimously passed the Senate earlier this month and now goes to the governor for his consideration. Lydia Lenker, a spokeswoman for Gov. Phil Bredesen, said the governor will review the legislation once it reaches his desk.
Tennessee legislature names stretch of road for Jerry Lee Lewis
No, they didn't wheel in a piano -- The Killer didn't seem in the mood for a whole lotta shakin' anyway -- but the Tennessee legislature nevertheless honored Jerry Lee Lewis with a standing ovation Monday evening.
Lewis, his daughter and manager, Phoebe Lewis, and co-manager, J.W. Whitten, standing in the well, the House of Representatives gave final legislative approval to a bill designating the section of Getwell Road between Interstate 240 and the Mississippi border "the Jerry Lee Lewis Highway."
Rep. Karen Camper, D-Memphis, congratulatesJerry Lee Lewis after he was honored Monday at the state Capitol in Nashville
The vote was 95-0 in favor of the bill, and followed a 33-0 vote in the Senate earlier this month.
But as is standard with many street-naming measures, the resolution requires the City of Memphis to pay the $325 costs for the two signs to be put up at each end of the designated stretch of roadway.
Sponsored by Rep. Curry Todd, R-Collierville, and Sen. Reginald Tate, D-Memphis, the street-naming bill takes note of Lewis' "countless contributions (that) were recently recognized when he was named by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and Case Western Reserve University as an American Music Master," the first-ever living recipient of the honor.
Todd said he has known Lewis since the mid-1970s when Todd, then a Memphis police officer, occasionally helped provide security at Graceland when Lewis and other Memphis music luminaries visited Elvis Presley.
"He's the last of the living legends. Gone before him are Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley, all who recorded in Memphis," said Todd, who presented Lewis with a framed copy of the legislative resolution.
Lewis kept his remarks short: "I'd just like to say thank you very much and God bless you. It's not every day you get a street named after you. I think it's a great honor. It's a privilege to be here and God bless each and every one of you."
The star stayed afterward for a while having his picture taken and signing autographs.
Another Tennessee legend was present in the chamber, having been honored by the House just before Lewis -- former University of Tennessee head football coach Johnny Majors.
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