Friday, January 21, 2000
Some want street named for golfer
Franklin council is leery of Lickliter move
BY DAVID ECK
Enquirer Contributor
FRANKLIN — Fred Alcorn wants to make sure this Warren County city doesn't forget a famous son.
For months, Mr. Alcorn has been pushing city officials to rename a major thoroughfare after professional golfer Frank Lickliter Jr., and this week he gave City Council a petition with nearly 80 signatures supporting the effort.
Though he lives in Florida, Mr. Lickliter grew up in Franklin and his parents still live in his boyhood home.
“He has an awful lot of roots here, and he's never forgotten anybody,” Mr. Alcorn said. “He's one of those guys that always stands for what's right, and I don't think he will ever embarrass himself or the town.”
In a letter to Franklin council, Ohio Court of Appeals Judge William Young, also a Franklin native, urged city officials to act on a Lickliter honor.
“I am especially proud of Frank Lickliter and what he has achieved in the world of golf,” he wrote. “Frank Lickliter is now a national sports celebrity and has made us all proud.”
Mr. Lickliter will enter his fifth year on the Professional Golfers Association tour in 2000, Mr. Alcorn said. Although he has never won a PGA event, he finished fourth in the 1998 PGA Championship and came in second at the 1999 Bob Hope Classic at Pebble Beach, Calif. He was 44th on the 1999 money-winning list with more than $872,000.
Other area cities have streets named after native sports figures, including Pete Rose Way and Ezzard Charles Drive in Cincinnati, and Edwin C. Moses Boulevard in Dayton.
But some council members said there are other Franklin natives and residents — not just national and sports figures — who should be recognized with street renamings. They agreed to develop criteria for such honors.
“There are several different areas that a person can make contributions,” said Councilman Greg Sample. “Let's talk about the people who have made Franklin what it is. I would agree we're not prepared to start renaming streets.”
Council also expressed concern that renaming a major street would inconvenience residents and businesses who would have to change stationery, checks and other printed items.
Frank Lickliter Sr. said he has no opinion on the attempt to recognize his son, nor has he talked to Frank Jr. about it.
Council did agree to install signs at all city entrances to acknowledge the golfer's ties to Franklin. The signs should be up in a couple of months, Mr. Sample said.
If the city does designate a street after Mr. Lickliter, council members said one possibility is Ohio 123 from Interstate 75 into Franklin. It's a major road and passes a golf driving range, the city park and a school Mr. Lickliter attended.
“If you're going to recognize that person, it might as well be a street that's frequented and traveled a great deal,” Mr. Alcorn said. “There are many people that think the young man is a hero figure.”
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