Metro East Sun

Rep. Charlie Meier (R-Okawville) dedicated a bridge to a lifelong Village of Pocahontas resident.

Presenting HJR90 at the May 8 House floor debate, Meier asked his peers to help him designate the bridge on Route 160 between Highland and Grantfork crossing over Interstate 70 as the Richard Clayton Bridge.

“This ... will rename a bridge in Madison County in memory of him,” Meier said.

Born and raised in Pocahontas, Clayton graduated from the local high school as a star basketball player and became a student of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville; however, he could not afford to stay enrolled and later enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, according to the bill text.

After marrying his wife, Marjory Ellen Hicks, the two started the Chipwood Acres Nursery along Route 160, and provided trees and flowers to the community for 20 years, the bill text adds.

Clayton passed away on Jan. 1, a year after his wife.

HJR90 passed unanimously at 111-0.