Seventeen miles of US 95 in Yuma have been designated as the Gary Knight Memorial Highway, following the installation of new signs by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). The section, which runs between mileposts 31 and 48, was named to honor Gary Knight, a local civic leader and former chairman of the Arizona State Transportation Board.
The designation was approved by the Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names. This part of US 95 stretches from eastern Yuma to Yuma Proving Ground, a significant employer in the region.
The proposal for this highway naming came from the Yuma Metropolitan Planning Organization. On Thursday, November 6, an event was held where community leaders gathered to recognize Knight’s contributions. ADOT Director Jennifer Toth stated, “I am pleased to honor Gary Knight’s service to Arizona and his commitment to enhancing transportation infrastructure not just in his community but across our state.”
Gary Knight passed away in April 2024 while serving his third term on the Yuma City Council. He had also served as deputy mayor of Yuma and participated on executive boards for both the Yuma Metropolitan Planning Organization and Greater Yuma Port Authority. Appointed to the State Transportation Board in 2018, he became chairman before completing his six-year term.
Several other highways in Arizona are named after notable individuals, including Governor Rose Mofford Memorial Highway along two segments of US 60 between Globe and Apache Junction, Piestewa Freeway (State Route 51), and Congressman Ed Pastor Freeway (Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway).
Further details about the Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names can be found at the Arizona State Library website: https://azlibrary.gov/about/boards-and-commissions.
