RALEIGH  --  The  North Carolina Board of Transportation approved a resolution naming a portion of Interstate 85 in honor of  U.S. Representative  Howard Coble. 

“Howard Coble was an amazing congressman who set the standard for sincerity, hard work and honesty in public service,” Governor McCrory said at the meeting. “I considered him a mentor and friend. Most importantly, he was a tireless advocate for his constituents. I’m proud that we can honor his legacy in this way.”

The resolution designates part of I-85 in Guilford County as the Congressman J. Howard Coble Highway. The section spans between I-40 and Alamance Church Road, the site of Coble’s childhood home.

Coble was a lifelong resident of Guilford County and a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard and Coast Guard Reserve. He served as an assistant federal prosecutor, state revenue secretary and state legislator prior to his first election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1984. He represented the Sixth District for 30 years.

Coble passed away on Nov. 3, 2015.

Governor McCrory presented a copy of the resolution to members of Congressman Coble's family and the Guilford County Board of Commissioners.

The North Carolina Board of Transportation also took action today on naming the Jimmy Kerr Rd. bridge over I-40 in Alamance County in honor of Jim Covington, Sr., a bridge on Cedar Square Rd. over I-74 in Randolph County for Trooper Dustin R. Bowick, U.S. 158 from Ivey Day Rd. to Thomas Store Rd. in Person County for Corporal Jesse A. Lunsford, and the Blue Star Memorial Highway extension on U.S. 64 from Williamston to U.S. 158 in Nags Head.