Hendersonville To Name Bridge In Honor Of Oak Ridge Boys

/by

The Oak Ridge Boys

A dedication ceremony will be hosted by the city of Hendersonville, Tennessee on Oct. 21 at Memorial Park to name the bridge that crosses Drakes Creek along Johnny Cash Parkway in honor of longtime Hendersonville residents and Country Music Hall of Fame members The Oak Ridge Boys. 

During the Spring 2024 Session of the Tennessee Legislature, Senate Bill No. 1594 and House Bill No. 1607 was passed designating the bridge on Highway 31E as “The Oak Ridge Boys Bridge.” State Representative William Lamberth sponsored the bill.

“The Oaks have been Hendersonville’s spotlight for decades,” says Jamie Clary, Hendersonville Mayor. “They have bragged on Hendersonville from the stage, in the White House, and everywhere they go. At the same time, they have been quick to support families in our community. Having their bridge in the center of the city will remind drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians that the Oaks have been central to Hendersonville. Proudly we proclaim our love for them, similar to the way they have been proclaiming their love for Hendersonville.”

“When I joined The Oak Ridge Boys in 1966, there were less than 500 people in our little town,” says Duane Allen, The Oak Ridge Boys. “Now, we are probably 65,000. Today, I made the statement that I don’t need to leave our little city for almost anything I wish to buy, sell, or do. To have a bridge named after The Oak Ridge Boys is a huge honor to our group. I hope our little City of Hendersonville means as much to those who see our Oak Ridge Boys bridge as it does to me. Thank you, my neighbors!”

“There is no greater honor than to be honored by your hometown,” says Richard Sterban, The Oak Ridge Boys. “For over fifty years we have lived in Hendersonville. We have worked here. We have played here and more importantly we have raised our families here. Every time we cross this bridge, we will be reminded that Hendersonville is a very special place. We are so glad to call it our home.”

“I would like to extend my sincerest appreciation to the City of Hendersonville for paying tribute to The Oak Ridge Boys with this bridge dedication,” says William Lee Golden, The Oak Ridge Boys. “As a resident of Hendersonville since 1965, I have found joy in photographing the serene beauty of Old Hickory Lake at sunset and the rolling hills that surround us. It’s also where I raised all four of my sons. This town has been so good to us.”

Lorie Hollabaugh
Latest posts by Lorie Hollabaugh (see all)