On Tuesday, February 4, the Smith County Commissioners Court passed a resolution supporting the renaming of a portion of Farm-to-Market Road 2493 to the Captain Kevin Williams and Firefighter Austin Cheek Memorial Highway. The proposed state recognition is being spearheaded by Flint-Gresham Fire Department Chief Keith Tate and Texas Senator Bryan Hughes’ office.
Captain Kevin Williams, 42, and Firefighter Austin Cheek, 19, tragically lost their lives while battling a house fire on August 3, 2007, off FM 2493 in Flint. Both were members of the Noonday Fire Department.
The renaming effort seeks to honor their sacrifice and is supported by Cheek's mother, Tracey Hague, his brother Aaron Cheek, and close friend Kelly Fields, who attended the Commissioners Court session alongside members of Smith County Emergency Services District 2.
Senator Hughes has filed a bill to rename the stretch of FM 2493, also known as Old Jacksonville Highway, between its intersections with Church Street in Flint and County Road 150 in Smith County. Smith County Judge Neal Franklin, who served as Tyler Fire Chief during the 2007 incident, reflected on the difficult time, noting, "That was a tough time in the fire service and a tough time in the community."
