Representative Jean Schmidt presented sponsor testimony to the Senate Transportation Committee on House Bill 171, which would designate a portion of State Route 28 in Milford as the Captain Louis John Spiegl Memorial Highway.

"Designating this highway is a small but important way to remember Captain Spiegl," Representative Jean Schmidt told the committee during the bill's first hearing. She described Captain Spiegl (called John by friends and family) as a Vietnam veteran who was killed in action and provided biographical details of his education, training and service.

Schmidt said John Spiegl graduated from Milford High School in 1964 near the top of his class, attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, completed airborne and Ranger training, and later underwent armor and helicopter training. Schmidt described a mission in April 1971 in which Spiegl's helicopter crashed; he was rescued but later died of his wounds on June 25, 1971. Schmidt listed his decorations, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and other service medals.

Committee members thanked the representative for the testimony and noted the proposal's local significance; no committee questions or votes were recorded, and the bill proceeded as a first hearing on the record.