Two Sections of I-57 were dedicated to two fallen Illinois State Troopers on Monday morning in Effingham.
State Trooper Frank Doris was shot and killed in 1967 when conducting a routine traffic stop on his way back home from work. Trooper Doris had been serving in the ISP for 10 years.
State Trooper Layton T. Davis was shot and killed after attempting to arrest a wanted man during a traffic stop in 1976. He had served the ISP for 18 years.
I-57 Mile Post 151.3 Northbound to Mile Post 157 Southbound will be named for Trooper Doris and I-57 Mile Post 164.4 Northbound to Mile Post 168.1 Southbound will be named for Trooper Davis. Families of the fallen troopers both received replicas of the signs that will placed on the highway to mark the sections dedicated to Troopers Davis and Doris.
The sons of the two fallen Troopers, Mark Doris and Alan Davis both spoke during the ceremony.
The ceremony was attended by ISP Troopers, City Police, members of the public and government Officials including County Board Chairman Jim Niemann, Effingham Mayor Jeff Bloemker, and State Representatives John Calvaletto and David Reis.
The dedication project was headed by the Effingham Sunrise Rotary. According to Rotarian Kathy Shroeder, the idea to make a more suitable memorial for Troopers Doris and Davis came from her daughter.
State Representative David Reis, of Illinois District 109, explained that the legislation needed to name highways could take up to two years to be ratified.
In addition to naming the highway segments, the Rotary also had a monument constructed on the corner of E. Jefferson and N. 3rd Street.