Legislation honoring Tuscarawas County veterans passes Ohio General Assembly

The Times-Reporter
·2 min read
Specialist Ronald Johnson
Specialist Ronald Johnson

COLUMBUS ‒ Ohio plans to honor two Tuscarawas County veterans.

House Bill 578, introduced by state Rep. Brett Hillyer, R-Uhrichsville, will designate a portion of U.S. Route 36 as the “Robert E. Turney Memorial Highway” and a portion of U.S. Route 250 in Uhrichsville as the “Specialist Ronald Gene Johnson Memorial Overpass.” The bill recently passed the legislature.

Veteran honors:Legislation passed to name highway, overpass after soldiers

Turney was born and raised in Tuscarawas County. He served in the U.S. Army both before and during World War II. He was awarded the Silver Star for his actions in the North Africa campaign in 1943 and the Purple Heart after he was wounded in the line of duty in Sicily in 1943. Following his military service, Turney worked for the Ohio Department of Transportation for 33 years.

“Mr. Turney was a true war hero and dedicated public servant to the state of Ohio, and I am extremely proud to have the opportunity to recognize him,” Hillyer said.

The bill designates the portion of Route 36 between County Road 62 and state Route 416 in his honor. The provision was first introduced by Hillyer in House Bill 417 and was successfully amended into H.B. 578.

Ronald Johnson:Bill would name bridge after Uhrichsville man killed in Vietnam

Johnson was a resident of Uhrichsville. He served in the Vietnam War, where he was killed in the line of duty on Feb. 7, 1968, just 40 days before he was set to be discharged and return home to Ohio. Following his death, Johnson received the Bronze Star with a “V” device designation and a Purple Heart for his contributions to the U.S. military.

“Specialist Johnson paid the ultimate sacrifice fighting for his country,” Hillyer said. “My hope is that this will memorialize his honor in his home of Uhrichsville.”

H.B. 578 will designate the overpass on Johnson Drive spanning U.S. Route 250 in Uhrichsville as the “Specialist Ronald Gene Johnson Memorial Overpass.” This was first introduced by Hillyer in House Bill 521 and was also amended into H.B. 578.

H.B. 578 now heads to Gov. Mike DeWine to be signed into law.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Veterans Robert Turney, Ronald Johnson honored by Ohio legislature