JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Elected officials, staff, and family gathered in the Governor’s Office to honor the life of the late-Rep. Cloria Brown. With the signing of legislation, a portion of Lindbergh Boulevard in St. Louis County will officially be designated as the “Rep. Cloria Brown Memorial Highway.”
On Monday, House Speaker Elijah Haahr, Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz, and Gov. Mike Parson all signed HB 448 and 206. The legislation aims to honor Brown, who passed away last March after battling cancer. The bills, which were identical and combined in committee, were passed unanimously in both chambers.
“Representative Brown was a dedicated, compassionate public servant who always had the best interest of her constituents at heart,” Parson said. “It was an honor to sign today’s bill that will help ensure Representative Brown’s legacy lives on with St. Louis County residents and all Missourians for generations to come.”
The signing ceremony was attended by Brown’s family including her husband of 57 years and her granddaughter who recently returned from a mission class. Monday’s ceremony was also attended by many of her former colleagues and other members of the General Assembly wishing to honor her legacy.
The Missouri Department of Transportation will be placing the signage for the new highway designation when the legislation becomes effective on August 28. Private donations were collected to pay for the signs.
“As a State Representative, Cloria Brown served with strength and grace as a legislator for her district and state. She leaves a legacy, for others to follow, in her work against human trafficking,” said Rep. Patricia Pike.
“Cloria was a beloved servant of the citizens of the 94th district and worked tirelessly to stand up for those who did not have a voice,” Rep. Jim Murphy said. “Honoring her in this way will be a reminder of the legacy she leaves of not sitting idly by but to work with grit and grace to make a difference in our community.”
“We are grateful for Cloria Brown’s service to the State of Missouri. She worked hard to make a difference for constituents and to the state,” Sen. Scott Sifton said.
Alisha Shurr was a reporter for The Missouri Times and The Missouri Times Magazine. She joined The Missouri Times in January 2018 after working as a copy editor for her hometown newspaper in Southern Oregon. Alisha is a graduate of Kansas State University.
