Resolution Designating Interstate 26 as Morris "Mac" McGough Freeway

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS COUNTY OF BUNCOMBE

Mac at WNC Corridors Association Meeting

RESOLUTION REQUESTING DESIGNATION OF THE SECTION OF

INTERSTATE 26 IN BUNCOMBE COUNTY AS THE

MORRIS L. MCGOUGH FREEWAY

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WHEREAS, Morris L. (Mac) McGough is a resident of Buncombe County; and

WHEREAS, Mac McGough is a founding director and long-time Co-Chairman of the Western North Carolina Highway Corridor’s Association (formerly the I-26 Corridor Association); and

WHEREAS, he has spent numerous hours since 1987 advocating for Interstate 26 construction in Madison and Buncombe Counties and related highway corridors—organizing and attending meetings, making trips to Raleigh, coordinating with Tennessee officials, with civic groups, and the media; and

WHEREAS, his tireless efforts were without compensation and included considerable expenditure of his personal funds; and

WHEREAS, Mac has been a leader in the development of Western North Carolina for over 50 years, beginning with his serving as founder of the Western North Carolina Community development Association in 1949, and has earned the title of “Father of Community Development in Western North Carolina”; and

WHEREAS, he played a key role in developing regional facilities that include the Western North Carolina Farmer’s Market, the North Carolina Arboretum, the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center, the Mountain Horticultural Corps Research and Extension Center and other facilities to benefit residents of rural and urban areas.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners for the County of Buncombe as follows:

1. That this Board does hereby request that the segment of I-26 in Buncombe County be designated by the North Carolina Department of Transportation as the Morris L. McGough freeway.

2. That this Board joins with the Western North Carolina Highway Corridor’s Association in making this request.

3. That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Mike Easley, Governor of North Carolina; Lyndo Tippett, Secretary of the Department of Transportation; Alan Thornberg, Area Board of Transportation and leaders in the North Carolina General Assembly.