GDOT names Atlanta bridge to honor Washington's own Johnny Gresham

An Atlanta bridge was named for longtime DOT board member Johnny Gresham (left) and announced at his 65th birthday celebration last month.

Washington native Johnny Gresham, a 17-year board member for the Georgia Department of Transportation, was honored Thursday, December 27, when a City of Atlanta bridge was named for him. Georgia DOT Commissioner Harold E. Linnenkohl presented the bridge sign at Gresham's 65th birthday party celebration at The Cobb Galleria Centre in Marietta.

Linnenkohl cited Gresham for his outstanding leadership as a longtime member of the DOT board and for providing the impetus to have the current bridge constructed over I-75 near the Georgia Tech campus. He explained that the Georgia Tech campus has expanded eastward and that the Johnny Gresham Plaza Bridge, as it is now known, provides both pedestrian and vehicular access to Georgia Tech's actives east of I-75, including the business school.

This was but one of the highlights of the evening which was attended by members of the W-WHS 1960 state championship football team and Georgia Tech's 1964 football team - Gresham was class president.

Comments, anecdotes, and other accolades of Gresham's career, in and out of football, were presented by wife Lynda, daughters Lynn and Rhonda, Senator Johnny Isakson, Tech's 1964 quarterback Jerry Priestley, Coach Bill Curry, and teammate John Harvey Edwards, among others. The birthday bash was catered by The Varsity which provided its nationally famous "Naked Dogs," "PCs," Orange Crushes, burgers, onion rings, and fries to the delight of the 300 in attendance - all friends and family.

During the party, Georgia Tech's "Ramblin' Wreck," was driven into the ballroom at the Galleria Centre. The 1930 Model A Ford Sport Coupe was on display for all to see "close up."

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