XENIA — A bill has been introduced to rename a local United States Postal Service (USPS) facility after a legendary WHIO-TV weatherman.
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The bill would rename the post office on E. Main Street in Xenia as the “Gilman ‘Gil’ Whitney Post Office Building.”
This comes a day before April 3, which marks 52 years since an EF-5 tornado destroyed part of the city of Xenia, leaving more than 30 people dead.
Whitney broke into programming to warn people in the city to take cover. It’s a warning that’s been credited with helping save lives.
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Congressman Mike Turner, who introduced the bill alongside the entire Ohio Delegation, called Whitney “a trusted voice for our community when it mattered most.”
“As we remember the lives impacted by the 1974 tornado, this designation would ensure Gil Whitney’s legacy continues to be recognized by future generations,” Turner said in a statement. “During the 1974 tornado that devastated Xenia, his warning helped save lives and left a lasting mark on the Miami Valley. Renaming the Xenia Post Office in his honor is a fitting tribute to a man whose service to our region will not be forgotten.”
Congressman Mike Carey added he was proud to support the effort to honor Whitney’s legacy.
“Gil Whitney is a local hero who saved countless lives and protected families across Ohio with his reporting,” Carey said.
In a statement, Congressman Greg Landsman said it was important to honor Ohioans like Whitney who were dedicated to keeping people safe.
“More than 50 years after the devastating Xenia tornado, it’s only fitting to rename a local landmark in his name to recognize the critical impact he made on that community,” Landsman said.
The bill was introduced in the 119th Congress and referred to committee.
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