Governor Maura Healey announces 'Bob Cousy Pass' on I‑290 at Holy Cross dedication

Governor Maura Healey announced the naming of the I‑290 overpass as the "Bob Cousy Pass" on Friday during a dedication at the College of the Holy Cross, praising the longtime Worcester resident and basketball figure for his contributions on and off the court.

"We thought it'd be pretty cool if every time people pass by on I‑290, the route they take is the Bob Cousy Pass," Healey said, adding that the signage is already in place. She said the state team, including undersecretary Jonathan Gulliver, helped make the naming happen.

The announcement came at an event on the Bob Cousy Court that brought together family, friends, college leaders and local officials. Jeremy, speaking on behalf of the college and president Rousseau, welcomed the governor and Cousy and turned the program over for remarks and conversation.

Cousy reflected on his life and career, recalling arriving in Worcester to play at Holy Cross in the mid‑1940s and practicing in a barn. "I was given god given skills to play it quite well at the point guard position," he said, describing how the campus and city shaped his life. He praised Healey as "a politician with a soul" and recounted meeting her years earlier when she introduced herself while running for attorney general.

During his remarks Cousy praised Healey's work as attorney general, saying she had "gone after the pharmaceuticals" and pursued other accountability efforts. Those statements were presented as Cousy's account of her record; no vote or formal council action on the naming was recorded in the program.

The program also touched on Cousy's perspective about the evolution of the game: he said the three‑point shot is a useful weapon but should be used with timing and not as a first option. He spoke at length about point‑guard play, vision on the court and memories of teammates and coaches from his Holy Cross days.

Healey framed the naming as a way for generations of Massachusetts drivers and residents to encounter Cousy's legacy. "People will be traveling over it multiple times a day, and your name is there and they're gonna think of one incredible human being," she said.

The host announced a reception for guests after the ceremony and directed visitors to an official plaque honoring Cousy on College Street, immediately before the war memorial; signage for the Bob Cousy Pass is posted underneath the overpass on each side.

The event concluded after brief closing remarks and an invitation to the reception.