The Dallas City Council held a Special Called Meeting on August 14th to correct a 29-year-old error. The State of Texas renamed South Central Expressway to S. M. Wright Freeway on June 13, 1995, with the passing of Texas Senate Bill No. 1129 and signed decree by Governor George W. Bush making the name change effective immediately. S.B. No. 1129 was authored by State Senator Royce West and sponsored by State Representatives Yvonne Davis, Helen Giddings, Sam Hudson, and Jesse Jones. As one of his initial authored bills as a freshman state senator, West wanted to recognize and honor Dr. S. M. Wright, Sr. for his leadership as a prominent pastor, civil rights advocate, and community service in Dallas County. The S. M. Wright Freeway is the first Texas freeway to bear the name of an African American individual.
This past May it was learned that policy procedures were never completed in 1995 by Dallas City Council and staff to formally rename the thoroughfare and the Dallas Street Grid Information System (GIS) was never updated to show the renaming of South Central Expressway to S. M. Wright Freeway. The GIS is used by police, fire, and emergency services for traffic directions. Councilman Adam Bazaldua (District 7), along with the support of Interim City Manager Kim Tolbert led the task of policy procedures to correct the renaming error. The City Council voted unanimously to rename the thoroughfare to S.M. Wright Freeway.
Speakers during the Council Meeting included State Senator Royce West; State Representative Yvonne Davis; Dr. David Wilson, President of Dallas Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance; Dr. T.L. Brown, President of Dallas Baptist Ministers Union; Dr. W.T. Glynn, President of Missionary Baptist General Convention of Texas; Rev. Denny Davis, Vice President of National Missionary Baptist Convention of America; and Bishop Joseph Jackson, Auxiliary Bishop of the Texas Metropolitan Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Church of God in Christ.
