UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1399
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A JOINT RESOLUTION designating the Sheriff Gene Cyrus Memorial Highway 1
in Johnson County. 2
WHEREAS, Cecil Eugene "Gene" Cyrus was born on June 13, 1935, in Lawrence 3
County, Kentucky, to Joseph Sheridan and Mary Jane Wilson Cyrus, as one of their nine 4
children; and 5
WHEREAS, Gene Cyrus and his family moved to Johnson County, where he 6
attended school in the Paintsville Independent School System, graduating from 7
Paintsville High School in 1955; and 8
WHEREAS, Gene Cyrus was an accomplished football player who earned a full 9
scholarship to attend Texas A&M University under legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant; 10
and 11
WHEREAS, after college, Gene Cyrus enlisted in the United States Army, where 12
he proudly served in Korea until his military service concluded and he returned to 13
Kentucky, where he met his wife, Esther Gay Blevins; and 14
WHEREAS, Gene and Gay Cyrus settled down in Paintsville and started a family. 15
They had three beautiful children, Jeania Cyrus, Bucky Cyrus, and Angela Cyrus Taylor; 16
and 17
WHEREAS, Gene Cyrus was a devout Christian and a member of Tom's Creek 18
Freewill Baptist Church, and he went on to open a Christian bookstore with the pastor, 19
James Kelly Caudill, to give the people of Johnson County greater access to God's word; 20
and 21
WHEREAS, Gene Cyrus had a long, varied career in which he worked in the oil 22
fields in West Virginia, as an insurance agent, and opened three Kentucky Fried Chicken 23
franchise locations in Eastern Kentucky. In 1982, he was elected Sheriff of Johnson 24
County; and 25
WHEREAS, Gene Cyrus held the position of Johnson County Sheriff for ten years, 26
handily winning the election three times with his slogan "Walk Tall with the law"; and 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1399
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WHEREAS, Gene Cyrus was tragically murdered in the line of duty, while serving 1
a bench warrant on March 18, 1992, leaving his family and an entire community in 2
mourning; and 3
WHEREAS, Gene Cyrus's legacy continues to be felt in Johnson County, where he 4
is fondly remembered for his dedicated service to its citizens and the Commonwealth; 5
NOW, THEREFORE, 6
Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 7
ď˘Section 1. The Transportation Cabinet shall designate Kentucky Route 2275 in 8
Johnson County, from its intersection with Kentucky Route 40 until its intersection with 9
Marina Road, as the "Sheriff Gene Cyrus Memorial Highway" and shall, within 30 days 10
of the effective date of this Resolution, erect the appropriate signage. 11