KNOX COUNTY, Ind. — (WTWO/WAWV) — A bill at the Indiana statehouse could rename a highway to honor a fallen soldier from the Wabash Valley.
The bill would rename part of State Road 67 after 1st Lieutenant Clayton Robert Cullen. The stretch of highway is in Knox County from East Cardinal Rd. to North Scepter Rd. and would be named “LT. Clayton Robert Cullen Memorial Highway.”
Lt. Cullen was a member of the Army’s 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division.
On January 20, 2018, he died in helicopter crash during a training exercise in Fort Irwin, Calif. The Indiana House of Representatives recently voted unanimously in support of the name change.
“He’s somebody that the community can look up to and be proud of an want to emulate,” said Indiana State Rep. Bruce Borders. “It’s a way of saying we honor you, we value you and thank you for the type of legacy that you leave with your life.”
Lt. Cullen’s journey in the military began at Indiana University in the ROTC program. His commander at IU remembers him as being a strong leader.
“Most of those cadets tended to stay away from like me because I was the Lieutenant Colonel,” said retired Lieutenant Colonel Tim Hoch. “Some of them were intimated and Clay was just, he was completely the opposite. Just this very naturally confident — not cocky — outgoing, charismatic.”
Borders, who co-authored the bill, says Lieutenant Cullen is remembered as a man who loved to share his faith.
“The fact of it is, I honestly believe that Clay himself according to scripture is able to even look down on this and kind of smile and be honored by this and see the effect his life has had on others,” said Borders.
The next step in the process is for the resolution to be voted on by the Indiana Senate, followed by a signature from Gov. Eric Holcomb.
