Dallas station renamed: Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson Union Station
October 11th, 2016
October 11, 2016 - TRA Newswire -
Dallas Union Station reaches its 100th anniversary this month, a cause to celebrate by itself. But now add to that a new banner for the historic station. A longtime North Texas transportation advocate in Congress will have her name on it in the future. The Dallas City Council voted Tuesday to rename Dallas Union Station Eddie Bernice Johnson Union Station.
The long serving U.S. Representative, Ms. Johnson, was praised by Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings as "a heroine of Dallas like few have ever been." The suggestion to honor her came from former Dallas Mayor and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk. Southern Dallas city council members Casey Thomas and Erik Wilson proposal to the council suggested renaming Union Station to honor Representative Johnson. Council member Wilson cited Congreswoman Johnson's advocacy for DART and other North Texas transportation projects and said she was exceptionally good at "bringing home the bacon."
Johnson broke ground by being the first woman and the first black representative from Dallas to serve in the Texas legislature as a Democrat. Mayor Rawlings said "she was a pioneer". She also served in the Texas Senate before being appointed to serve as regional director for the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, the first African American woman to hold this position. She has held her seat in the 30th Congressional District since 1993.
Dallas Union Station reaches its 100th anniversary this month, a cause to celebrate by itself. But now add to that a new banner for the historic station. A longtime North Texas transportation advocate in Congress will have her name on it in the future. The Dallas City Council voted Tuesday to rename Dallas Union Station Eddie Bernice Johnson Union Station.
The long serving U.S. Representative, Ms. Johnson, was praised by Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings as "a heroine of Dallas like few have ever been." The suggestion to honor her came from former Dallas Mayor and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk. Southern Dallas city council members Casey Thomas and Erik Wilson proposal to the council suggested renaming Union Station to honor Representative Johnson. Council member Wilson cited Congreswoman Johnson's advocacy for DART and other North Texas transportation projects and said she was exceptionally good at "bringing home the bacon."
Johnson broke ground by being the first woman and the first black representative from Dallas to serve in the Texas legislature as a Democrat. Mayor Rawlings said "she was a pioneer". She also served in the Texas Senate before being appointed to serve as regional director for the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, the first African American woman to hold this position. She has held her seat in the 30th Congressional District since 1993.