The Finch Formerly Known As Gold

28 December 2005

Rock down to Electric Avenue

In 1990, the city of McAlester, Oklahoma renamed a major thoroughfare Gene Stipe Boulevard, after a local lawyer who had served in the state Senate for four decades.

Two years ago, after pleading guilty to federal charges of funneling money illegally into an associate's Congressional race and subsequently laundering the funds, Stipe resigned from the Senate in disgrace, was fined a gazillion dollars, and gave up his law license.

Earlier this year, five hundred McAlester residents submitted a petition to get Stipe's name off the street signs, and yesterday the City Council voted 5-2 to do just that; the street will revert to its previous name of Electric Avenue.

A friend of Stipe's said he'd see to it that Mayor Don Lewis was turned out of office at the next election.

Posted at 10:35 AM to Soonerland


TrackBack: 12:11 PM, 28 December 2005
» McAlester restores its (street’s) good name from Independent Christian Voice
McAlester reverses its name change of one of its main thoroughfares, erasing the now disgraced Gene Stipe name and restoring the original Electric Avenue name. ......[read more]

Now if they would just get rid of "Reagan Airport," which I refuse to use and change it back to National Airport.

P.S. Now I have that song jammed in my head. Thanks.

Posted by: Washington Cube at 10:57 AM on 28 December 2005

Ronald Reagan:
1.) Was a great president
2.) Was not a felon

Therefore, your comment:
1.) Is a non-sequiter

Posted by: Dan at 2:24 PM on 28 December 2005

Restoring the old name restores a nearly forgotten bit of local history: Electric Avenue runs from McAlester to nearby Krebs, and was so named because it was built alongside an electric interurban line.

Posted by: Michael Bates at 3:14 PM on 28 December 2005

I can't believe the city council had the guts, Stipe really has lost all his power.

Posted by: Ceres at 4:31 PM on 28 December 2005

Does anyone else have this umm.. Song? stuck in his head now?

We gonna rock down to
Electric Avenue
And then we'll take it higher
Oh
We gonna rock down to
Electric Avenue
And then we'll take it higher

Posted by: Dan at 9:06 PM on 28 December 2005

Anyone else need an earworm?

Posted by: CGHill at 9:18 PM on 28 December 2005

Ahh! It's burrowing in, Ceti Eel style! Nooooooo!

Posted by: Dan at 11:38 PM on 28 December 2005

Lets just be thankful there isnt a Barbie street ... that Aqua song could be fatal if ingested :)

Posted by: ron at 5:23 PM on 29 December 2005