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Council updates naming policy, honors Eddie Hill and Reverend Angus Thompson
Summary
The Wichita Falls City Council approved an updated naming/renaming resolution replacing a 1998 policy, removed the five‑year posthumous requirement, expanded honorary street options and clarified removal procedures. The council also approved renaming the RC Airpark to Eddie Hill RC Airpark and an honorary street designation for the late Reverend Angus Thompson.
Wichita Falls — The City Council voted Dec. 2 to modernize its policy on naming city-owned facilities and to approve multiple honorary namings recognizing local figures.
Council voted to replace Resolution 162‑98, a naming policy adopted in 1998, with a modernized resolution that staff said removes an automatic five‑year posthumous requirement and expands recognition options to include living honorees, offices and honorary street designations. "The old ordinance... you had to be deceased for five years," a staff presenter said, noting the change allows the community to recognize contributions while honorees are still living. The updated policy also creates a process for removal or revocation of a name and clarifies that applicants typically would bear costs associated with address changes.
On separate agenda items, council approved a resolution renaming the Wichita Falls RC Airpark at Lake Wichita to the Eddie Hill RC Airpark of Wichita Falls at Lake Wichita Park (5205 Fairway Boulevard). Kaylee introduced the item; community member Trey (transcript shows both "Trey Shwala" and later "Trey Serrala") spoke about Hill's decades-long racing career and local economic contributions. The council approved the renaming by voice vote.
Council also approved an honorary street designation recognizing the late Reverend Angus Thompson on a stretch of Borton/Morton Street. Staff and church representatives explained the choice of an honorary sign (rather than a legal street‑name change) to avoid costly address changes for roughly 60–66 affected properties, including a nearby school. Community speakers recounted Reverend Thompson's civic service, including council service, founding Operation Fresh Start, and leadership roles with Head Start and food‑bank initiatives.
Council members praised the updated naming policy and the honorees, and the council adopted the resolutions by voice vote. The policy change will govern future naming requests and establishes criteria staff and council will use going forward.
