What's happening
This bill designates a portion of State Route 394 as the "Staff Sergeant David Textor Memorial Highway" in Chautauqua County.
Why it matters
Honors Local Service and Sacrifice. Naming the highway after Staff Sergeant David Textor serves as a public recognition of his contributions and sacrifice, helping to keep his memory alive within the community and fostering a sense of local pride and remembrance.
Impacts Community Identity. The memorial designation can strengthen community identity and unity by highlighting shared history and honoring local heroes, potentially becoming a point of local significance for residents and visitors.
Ceremonial, Not Legal Name Change. The bill specifies that the designation is ceremonial, meaning that while signage will reflect the new memorial name, the official legal name of the highway remains unchanged—minimizing administrative disruptions and confusion for businesses or emergency services.
Potential to Inspire Civic Engagement. Such memorials often encourage public reflection on military service and may inspire increased awareness, respect for veterans, and even participation in community or veterans’ events along the designated route.
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Who cares
New York State Department of Transportation
The commissioner would be responsible for installing and maintaining signs for the Staff Sergeant David Textor Memorial Highway.
Kennedy and Falconer residents
The bill would ceremonially designate the stretch of State Route 394 between their communities in Chautauqua County in Textor’s honor.
Businesses along State Route 394
The highway’s official name would remain unchanged to avoid confusion and limit possible disruption of commerce.
Headline styles
Name Road for Sgt. Textor
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Recommit, enacting clause stricken
- Referred to transportation
Companion bills
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Name Highway for Sgt. Textor
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Andrew Goodell
Name Highway for Sgt. Textor
Stricken · Sponsor Thomas F. O'Mara
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
911
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. YOUNG -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the highway law, in relation to designating a portion of the state highway system as the "Staff Sergeant David Textor Memorial Highway"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The highway law is amended by adding a new section 344-i to read as follows:
§ 344-i. Portion of the state highway system to be designated as the "Staff Sergeant David Textor Memorial Highway". All that portion of the state highway system constituting state route three hundred ninety-four between the town of Kennedy and the village of Falconer, county of Chautauqua, shall be designated and known as the "Staff Sergeant David Textor Memorial Highway".
§ 2. The commissioner of transportation shall provide for the installation and maintenance of adequate signing of the state highway system as designated pursuant to section one of this act. However, to avoid confusion and to limit any possible disruption of commerce, the designation called for pursuant to section one of this act shall be one of ceremonial nature and the official name of such highway shall not be changed as a result of this act.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04036-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the highway law, in relation to designating a portion of the state highway system as the "Staff Sergeant David Textor Memorial Highway"
Purpose or general idea of bill
Designates State Route 394 between the town of Kennedy and the village of Falconer, County of Chautauqua, as the "Staff Sergeant David Textor Memorial Highway."
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1: Amends the highway law by adding a new section 344-h, which designates State Route 394 between the Town of Kennedy and the Village of Falconer, county of Chautauqua, as the "Staff Sergeant David Textor Memorial Highway."
Section 2: States that the commissioner of transportation shall provide for the installation and maintenance of adequate signing of the state highway systems as designated pursuant to section 1 of this act. The designation will be for ceremonial purposes only, and the roads official name will not be changed as a result of this act.
Section 3: Provides that the act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
Staff Sergeant David Textor served his nation in Iraq assigned to the United States Army's Company A, 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne). Staff Sergeant Textor tragically lost his life in service to our country on July 15, 2008 while conducting combat operations in Mosul, Iraq. Staff Sergeant Textor began the Special Forces Qualifica- tion Course in May 2005, and he earned the coveted "Green Beret" in November 2006. Staff Sergeant Textor's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Develop- ment Ribbon with Numeral "2" device, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, and the Special Forces Tab.
Staff Sergeant Textor was a native of Chautauqua County and attended Randolph Central High School where he competed in football, wrestling, and track. The Chautauqua County Legislature has expressed its desire to honor Staff Sergeant Textor. The Chautauqua County Legislature, by unan- imous vote, adopted a formal resolution requesting this legislation. The dedication of State Route 394 between the Town of Kennedy and the Village of Falconer, is but one small way for this state to honor the bravery, dedication and ultimate sacrifice of this brave American hero.
Prior legislative history
2018: S.8856/A.10977 Passed Senate
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.