I've lived in this area for over 30 years and have never heard the tollway called anything other than the Sam Houston Tollway. The Beltway is new to me. In Dallas I refer to Stemmons Freeway more than I do IH-35 E. Your comment on these names having National or Statewide appeal being different than that of the name of William D. Fitch is incorrect. I will refer you to the resolution passed by the Texas State Senate in 1995. Apparently our State Government thought this man had enough signifigance in the growth and existence of the home town to the State's largest University. http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlo/74R/billtext/SR00506F.HTM Perhaps you should learn a little about your local history before making such ignorant statements. The apartment or home you live in during your 4 year visit to our town was likely built by this man. OR the land it stands on was once owned by him and you drive on the beautifully curbed streets built by him to get to school each day. A much bigger contribution than any A&M sports coach that has passed through our town over the years. PS- By naming SH40 after William D. Fitch is anything but "small town." This man's vision was to make sure CS didn't stay a small town and had constant development and growth. More on William D. Fitch: 1921 - 1997 Named "Mr. College Station" in 1995 By Resolution of the City Council --Texas A&M Class of 1942 --Captain, Field Artillery, U.S. Army, W.W. II Veteran --College Station City Council, 2 Terms from 1950 to 1952 (During his terms on the City Council the population of the City was about 4,000. He was instrumental in passing the City's first ordinances providing for curbed and paved streets, and complete water and sewer development in all city subdivisions.) --College Station School Board Trustee --B-CS Homebuilders Association --Director, Bank of A&M --Director, Bryan-College Station Chamber of Commerce --Director, Brazos River Authority --Director, College Station Industrial Foundation --Director, Sam Houston Area Council, Boy Scouts of America --He was a lifelong homebuilder and land developer. (At his retirement in 1993 approx. one-third of College Station had been developed by him). --He built the first College Station City Hall building at 101 Church Street. --Developed a number of College Station subdivisions during the 1960's and '70's, including: Leacrest, The Glade, Ridgefield, West and South Knoll, Southwood, Bee Creek and Dexter Place. During this time period, he provided the land for the new A&M Consolidated High School. --In the 1970's and 80's he developed Southwood Valley, Southwood Terrace, and Southwood Forest. --In 1984, he purchased the 956-acre tract at the corner of Greens Prairie and Highway Six, which he later expanded to 1400 acres and became Pebble Creek Subdivision which includes the Pebble Creek Elementary School, and College Station's first Country Club. --Donated the land for Bee Creek Park. --Donated the land for the David A. "Andy" Anderson Arboretum. --Donated the land for Georgie K. Fitch Park (named for Bill's mother). --Donated the land for Brothers Pond Park. --Donated the land for a number of other city parks. --Donated land for several churches. --Donated land for the Brazos Valley Masonic Library & Museum. --(While developing Southwood Valley, he had donated twice the parkland required under city ordinance. Today Southwood Valley consists of over 1,100 acres and includes several churches, an elementary school, a hospital, the Masonic Library & Museum, the College Station Medical Center, a Fire Station, the College Station Library, and the Southwood Athletic facilities.) --St. Thomas Episcopal Church --Eagle Scout & Scoutmaster --Sul Ross Lodge No. 1300 - Life Member --Steve Cooke Scottish Rite Club & the Houston Scottish Rite --Brazos Valley Shrine Club & Arabia Shrine Temple (Houston) --College Station Kiwanis Club --Aggie Club --Texas A&M Assoc. of Former Students In 1995, the cities of College Station and Bryan jointly proclaimed April 12, 1995, as "Bill Fitch Appreciation Day." In an interview with a local newspaper reporter, he was asked how he felt about his many accomplishments. Never one to appear boastful, he responded by saying, "Do you know how to tell if someone is important? If they stick their finger in a cup of coffee, and it leaves a hole, then they're important." When he died two years later, he left a hole in the Brazos Valley. Travis Bryan, Jr., chairman of the board of the First National Bank, said "He was dreamer who made all his dreams come true. He was really responsible for the growth of College Station. It think he really was 'Mr. College Station'." At the time of his death in 1997, the Eagle Editorial Board published an editorial titled "Bill Fitch was truly Mr. College Station." The article stated in part, "Not only was Bill Fitch a man of vision. He was also a man of service. He donated land for schools and churches and city parks because he knew thay are important to the quality of life in any city. He never waivered from his goal of a better College Station for everyone. Through it all, Bill Fitch remained kind, polite and friendly. He showed great respect for everyone he came in contact with. "He will be missed. No one should drive down one of College Station's busy streets or through one of its great neighborhoods and not think of him. Be thankful he lived here and cared so much about our community. His vision helped shape College Station into the wonderful place it has become."
