Dispute slows new road-naming policy

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And she said now is a good time for lawmakers to reform their practice of naming roads after living people. "I don't see any harm in waiting," she said.

But Lee Elmore in Greenville said that not all politicians or others honored for their service should be tarnished with the brush used on Morris.

"It's unfortunate that you have to wait until people die to be honored," he said. "It would be lovely for a person who has dedicated their whole life to the community or to service to be honored before they die. I don't think we need legislation on that."

Such different opinions are reflected in the state Senate, where a bill that bans naming roads, bridges and interchanges after living people awaits action.

House Speaker David Wilkins of Greenville proposed the bill earlier this year, saying then, "Only after a proper amount of time following one's passing can their contributions and life's legacy be legitimately evaluated."

The House sent the bill to the Senate on a 76-32 vote.

Sen. Ralph Anderson of Greenville, who said he hasn't had anything named after him, said he would like to wait until after the Morris Highway issue has faded before deciding the larger question.

"His bill has merit," he said of Wilkins' legislation. "But I don't think there have been that many people who have messed up to warrant that."

Now that the issue of the Morris Highway name has been resolved, the larger issue of what to do about other roads that might be named is up to the Senate to decide.

Sen. Larry Martin, a Pickens Republican, filed similar legislation in the Senate. He said he isn't sure whether the measure will pass.

"I would personally prefer us to do that, but I don't know that we've got support for it in the Senate," he said.

"There are probably more senators than House members who have roads and buildings named for them already. It sort of puts them in the position of how do you vote for something like that when you already have something named for you?"

Martin said Pickens County generally shies away from naming things after living people. He hasn't had anything named after him, he said, and doesn't want such an honor while he's still a senator.

Martin introduced legislation earlier this year to remove Morris' name from State 153. Morris was convicted on security fraud charges in the Carolina Investors case. Martin asked Department of Transportation board members to complete the process, which they did Thursday.

Lynne Finley of Greenville wanted Morris' name removed because she lost money in Carolina Investors. She said she also favors a ban on names for living folks.

"I wouldn't have thought about it before," she said. "But in light of this happening, I suppose it's a good idea. "

Department of Transportation Commissioner Bobby Jones of Camden said he knows of only one case of someone who has run afoul of the law in five years of naming structures throughout the state. That's out of more than 200 names, he said.