Jimmie Preston; memorial bridge

57th Legislature - First Regular Session Introduced by Stephanie Stahl Hamilton and 5 co-sponsors

Urges naming the Cameron truss bridge in Cameron, AZ as the Jimmie Preston Memorial Bridge and instructs ADOT to install and maintain corresponding signage.

Transmit to Secretary of State

Purpose

House Concurrent Memorial 2006 urges the Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names and the United States Board on Geographic Names to designate the Cameron truss bridge (near U.S. Route 89, Cameron Roadway, Arizona) as the “Jimmie Preston Memorial Bridge.” It also asks the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) to approve, install and maintain signage identifying the bridge by that name.

Key provisions

Urges the Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to take the appropriate steps to name the truss bridge in Cameron, Arizona, as the Jimmie Preston Memorial Bridge.

Requests that ADOT approve, place and maintain appropriate signage identifying the bridge.

Directs the Secretary of State to transmit copies of the memorial to:

Chairpersons of the Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names;
Chairpersons of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names;
Director of the Arizona Department of Transportation;
President of the Navajo Nation.

Background on Jimmie Preston

Born March 16, 1922, in Tuba City, Arizona. Enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at 17.

Served as a Navajo Code Talker and paratrooper with the 5th Marine Division; saw combat at Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Okinawa, Iwo Jima and other locations.

Discharged in 1946; later worked for the Arizona Highway Department, Navajo Tribal Police, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Navajo tribal government.

Died February 18, 1966, while serving as Cameron Chapter President.

The memorial cites his wartime service and community leadership as rationale for naming the bridge in his honor.

Who is affected / potential impact

State and federal geographic naming boards: asked to consider and approve a formal name change (the U.S. Board on Geographic Names holds federal naming authority).

Arizona Department of Transportation: asked to install and maintain signage (no funding or appropriation authorized by this memorial).

Local community (Cameron) and Navajo Nation: recognizes local history and a Navajo veteran; the President of the Navajo Nation is an official recipient of the memorial.

Motorists and map/database custodians: if boards approve, the bridge name could be reflected in official maps and signage.

Procedural status & timeline

Introduced: January 27, 2025 (Sponsors: Reps. Peshlakai; co-sponsors Liguori, Márquez, Sandoval, Stahl Hamilton, Volk).

Passed House: February 20, 2025.

Passed Senate: May 6, 2025.

Transmitted to Secretary of State / Filed: May 7, 2025.

Note: As a concurrent memorial, this is a formal request/recognition (non‑binding) rather than a law; implementation depends on actions by the named boards and ADOT.

Bill