All right, this may be old news but it has been bothering me for a long time.

I finally decided to take the time and voice my opinion on the matter of the naming of the streets on campus. Of course, you’re probably thinking; “What is he doing talking about that in a sports column?”

The answer is simple – a street was named after former faculty member Julie Hughes. The late Don Gross, who should have a street named after him, was passed up during the naming process. One thing I don’t understand is how Student Senate said no street would be named after a person, but then turn around and name it after Hughes. Now I have nothing against Hughes, and I know College President Julio León asked for the street to be named after her, but Senate should have stuck to its guns and said no, because they were told not to name a street after a person.

Again I would like to say I have nothing against Hughes or the decision to name one of the streets after her, but someone should have piped up and voted to name a street after Gross if they were to name a street after someone else.

I suggest we rename Victory Lane to Don Gross Lane. Look at all he has done for the community and Missouri Southern. Gross is most remembered as the voice of the Lions. He voiced many memorable games, including the 1972 NAIA National Football Championship, which Southern won.

He wasn’t just the voice of the Lions; he could be heard broadcasting for the Joplin Eagles, Parkwood Bears and Memorial Eagles. He was even the voice of the Lions when Southern was still Joplin Junior College.

Let us look at some more reasons to bestow this honor. In 1969, he was nominated for Missouri Sportscaster of the Year, the same year he broadcasted for the University of Missouri football and basketball teams. In 1992, he was named to the Missouri Southern Sports Hall of Fame and was a member of the inaugural class of the Joplin Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.

Gross even received a key to the city from the Joplin City Council Aug.19, 1996. He received the Missouri Southern Pioneers of Broadcasting Award in 1999.

After all of this, why not name a street after him?

Do not rename the street for me or for anyone else on campus. Don’t do it because I said to, or because of this column or because someone else said to. Do it because you know it is right in your heart. Most importantly, do it for Don.