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In his famous poem 性视界传媒淭he Road Not Taken,性视界传媒� Robert Frost said: 性视界传媒淭wo roads diverged in a wood, and I 性视界传媒� I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.性视界传媒�

But when economic development leaders thought about the road to improving business access to a growing Longview industrial park, they had only one road to take 性视界传媒� and they性视界传媒檇 have to build it. Gregg County Judge Bill Stoudt helped lead the charge to extend George Richey Road, which has been an economic boon to the city and county. And now, he性视界传媒檚 being commended for that work.

The Longview council on Thursday voted unanimously to rename George Richey Road as Bill Stoudt Parkway. The section to be renamed stretches from Gilmer Road to Judson Road. Longview resident Dr. John Coppedge and more than half of the property owners along the roadway petitioned for it to be named in Stoudt性视界传媒檚 honor.

Stoudt wasn性视界传媒檛 at Thursday性视界传媒檚 meeting, but he said afterward that he was 性视界传媒渆xtremely humbled性视界传媒� to have the road named after him.

性视界传媒淚 was totally caught by surprise,性视界传媒� he said. 性视界传媒淚性视界传媒檓 still taking it in.性视界传媒�

Stoudt has undertaken a number of causes to help the community since 2003, said District 5 Councilwoman Michelle Gamboa. But the road that is named in his honor now is 性视界传媒減erhaps one of his most lasting legacies,性视界传媒� she said.

The city of Longview, Longview Economic Development Corp., Longview Metropolitan Planning Organization, Texas Department of Transportation and Gregg County collaborated to expand the roadway 4.3 miles between U.S. 259 and Gilmer Road. The project was completed in phases and cost roughly $46.7 million. The first phase opened in late 2016.

Construction on the roadway wouldn性视界传媒檛 have started until 2020 unless local funding paved the way for work to begin, Stoudt told the News-Journal in 2016. The city of Longview, economic development corporation, planning organization and Gregg County spent millions on the project, and TxDOT footed the remainder.

性视界传媒淭o put one of these kind of roadways in the way we did it is just absolutely unheard of,性视界传媒� Stoudt said Thursday. 性视界传媒淚t性视界传媒檚 bringing the city, the county, economic development, TxDOT 性视界传媒� everybody bringing something to the table, and not just what they can do physically, but what they can do monetarily, and putting this project together.性视界传媒�

All those millions paid off economically by creating greater access to Longview性视界传媒檚 North 性视界传媒 Park.

Dollar General Corp. in 2019 opened an $80 million distribution center along the road that was expected to create 450 jobs and pump $700 million into the economy through 2044, the News-Journal previously reported. And in 2022, clothing manufacturer Gap, Inc., opened a $140 million, 850,000-square-foot distribution facility along the road, which is expected to have 1,222 employees by 2026, the News-Journal previously reported.

性视界传媒淏y renaming this road Bill Stoudt Parkway, we honor not just a man, but the collaborative spirit he embodies,性视界传媒� Gamboa said. 性视界传媒淭his roadway, which has already attracted major employers and opened up new opportunities for our community, will carry forward the legacy of someone who has dedicated his life to making Longview and Gregg County a better place for all.性视界传媒�

Mayor Kristen Ishihara made clear that Stoudt 性视界传媒渋n no way participated性视界传媒� in the renaming effort and that it was intended to surprise him. Ishihara said she has a favorite saying of Stoudt性视界传媒檚: 性视界传媒淚t is amazing what you can get done when someone isn性视界传媒檛 worried about taking the credit.性视界传媒�

性视界传媒淚 think the biggest benefit to East Texas that we receive from Judge Stoudt is that he invests in relationships. He invests in people,性视界传媒� she said. 性视界传媒淗e has had a hand in so many of the major things here in Gregg County.性视界传媒�

As county judge, improving the region性视界传媒檚 infrastructure has been one of Stoudt性视界传媒檚 priorities. He said he believes Longview and Gregg County have grown 性视界传媒� and will grow 性视界传媒� more than what data from the U.S. Census indicates, and the region needs the roads to accommodate the growing economy and population.

With his work on George Richey, Stoudt said he was 性视界传媒渏ust trying to do my job.性视界传媒�

性视界传媒淚 love this place, and we性视界传媒檝e got some big stuff happening. I think that性视界传媒檚 one of the fun things about being a county judge. You can bring people together. That性视界传媒檚 all I want to do.性视界传媒�