Remarks for Secretary Lyndo Tippett
Senator Robert D. Warren Highway Dedication Ceremony
Benson, NC
Thursday, September 15, 2005 at 11 a.m.
Good morning.
Tom, thank you for that introduction and for hosting this morning's event.
Tom does a fine job of serving this region on the Board of Transportation, and we all appreciate his ongoing efforts to improve transportation in Eastern North Carolina.
I am pleased to be here today to honor Senator Bob Warren, an exceptional individual whose service, dedication and love for others have made a profound and lasting impact, not only in this community, but throughout North Carolina.
Bob, I understand you were there when we celebrated the completion of I-40 from California to Wilmington-and little did you know back then that we would later be naming a piece of it in your honor.
The recognition we give you today is certainly deserved.
Bob has put in countless hours of hard work to ensure that North Carolina continues to be a land of opportunity-a place where citizens feel safe and have access to the resources they need to succeed and prosper.
The sheer number of people in attendance today demonstrates just how many lives Bob has affected across this community and throughout this state.
I certainly can't think of a more fitting tribute for the man who introduced the "Seat Belt Bill," than to name a stretch of interstate highway in his honor.
Because of Bob's efforts to pass this legislation, many lives have been saved both here and across the tens of thousands of highway miles that span the rest of the state.
His work on numerous transportation initiatives while serving in the North Carolina Senate paved the way for many of the successful transportation programs we have in place today.
In addition to his work on the "Seat Belt Bill," Bob also worked to ensure that vehicle buyers in North Carolina were informed if cars had been "salvaged," helping to protect them from fraud and make an educated purchase.
He also introduced and saw to completion legislation having to do with vehicle weight limits, and he worked with the Department of Transportation to get turn lanes installed on major state routes-such as N.C. 50 between Benson and Raleigh-ultimately helping to reduce congestion and traffic back-ups.
His efforts have certainly made my job easier and travel throughout our state safer and more convenient for us all.
Bob also served as director of DMV's driver license section for three years.
One former employee of Bob's at DMV said that must have been the toughest job in state government because as director he was charged with overseeing a room filled with 100 women.
Some DMV landmarks were achieved during Bob's years as driver license director, including the creation of an automated word processing center, the first of its kind in state government.
The center greatly reduced turn-around time on DMV correspondence and also resulted in significant cost savings for the department.
Most importantly though, everyone who worked for Bob during that time said he was one of the nicest and kindest individuals they had ever worked with, as well as a fair and consistent manager.
Bob has also dedicated years of time and energy to improving the minds of our young people, providing them with new opportunities to gain an education and build a better future.
He has contributed immeasurably to the education system in Johnston County-also my native county-serving as a pioneer in their vocational education programs, including a stint as the county's director of vocational education.
He also aided in the expansion of the state's community college system by playing an integral role in establishing Johnston County Technical Institute, now known as Johnston Community College.
Bob's love for others doesn't stop there. He has also invested significant time in to caring for our four-legged friends.
I understand that his prized mule, Frances- which I've been told by a confidential source was named for another "prize" of Bob's-will be participating in this year's "Mule Days."
And I know he has given countless hours to raising, training and caring for bird dogs as if they were his own children.
But most importantly, through it all, I know that Bob has been a devoted husband, father and grandfather and has consistently put the needs of his family before himself.
There truly is no man with a bigger heart or a more generous spirit.
Bob, it is a privilege to name this stretch of I-40 from 2.5 miles east of the Johnson County-Sampson County line in Sampson County to 2.5 miles west of the Sampson County-Johnston County line in Johnston County as the "Senator Robert D. Warren Highway".
This recognition is certainly well-deserved.
Bob, would you please come forward?
I'd like to present you with a replica sign as a reminder of all you've done on behalf of the citizens of this community, of Johnston and Sampson counties and of all North Carolinians.
Congratulations, and thanks again for all your outstanding efforts.
At this time, I'd like to ask Franklin Freeman to come forward to present another special award.