Admiral Ernest J. King Highway Proposal – Feb. 27, 1953

After World War II ended, there was an effort to honor Lorain's very own Admiral Ernest J. King, the Commander in Chief of the U. S. Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations.

In the late 1940s, for a time it looked like there would be an Admiral King State Park, located roughly where Beaver Creek empties into Lake Erie west of Lorain. This proposal fell through because of a legal problem related to purchasing the land.

Later in the early 1950s, there was an attempt to name the Ohio Turnpike after him, which is what you see above on the front page of the Lorain Journal of Feb. 27, 1953. 

As the caption for the illustration of the Admiral against a backdrop of the State of Ohio asks, "Will Ohio give proper recognition to one of her most famous sons... during his lifetime? Admiral Ernest J. King, whose brilliant strategic leadership of all U. S. naval operations during World War II was a major factor in final victory, ranks with the nation's greatest war heroes. Ohioans would do honor to the state by giving to the Ohio Turnpike the name of a great man – Admiral King Highway."

Two years later, the renaming of the highway looked like a done deal.

This article appeared in the June 28, 1955 Lorain Journal in which it was announced that Mayor John Jaworski of Lorain was soon to meet with the Ohio Turnpike Commission.

As the article noted, Governor Frank Lausche of Ohio offered "full support to the proposal" and urged James W. Shocknessy, chairman of the turnpike commission, "to take action before the dedication of the highway in October."

By July 17, 1955, an editorial in the Lorain Journal noted, "Ohioans, almost by acclaim, have signified their desire to have Ohio Turnpike No. 1 named Admiral King Highway. It remains only for the Turnpike Commission to give the final nod of approval to make definite this worthy recognition of a great man.

"Many individuals and groups throughout the state, including city councils, veterans organizations, civic groups, the State Junior Chamber of Commerce and a number of newspapers have voiced their approval of the proposed action.

"The final and most important stamp of approval came when both houses of the Ohio Legislature endorsed the proposal by resolution, almost unanimously.

"Earlier this year, James Shocknessy, chairman of the Turnpike Commission, told a Lorain delegation that public approval of the proposed name for the turnpike would be a factor in helping the commission reach a final decision.

"Now that the General Assembly, which represents citizens of the entire state, has spoke out clearly in favor of the proposal, it can be hoped that the commission will act promptly in adopting the name."

So why isn't there an Admiral King Highway today?

This editorial from the May 23, 1956 Lorain Journal explains. James Shocknessy, chairman of the Turnpike Commission, scuttled it. "He is unalterably opposed to any name other than Ohio Turnpike," the editorial noted.

Remember that each time you drive the James W. Shocknessy Ohio Turnpike today.