State Rep.

Kathy Cox of Peachtree City is finding smooth sailing for

her bill naming Ga. Highway 54 in Fayette County for the

late Paul Heard, a well-known community leader.

"The

bill is drawn up and ready to present," Cox told The

Citizen. It would name Hwy. 54 the Paul Heard Memorial

Highway from the Peachtree City limits to the Clayton

County line.

Heard,

former minority leader in the state House and former

member of the Peachtree City Council, died last November

of cancer at the age of 59.

"Paul

was one of the first people I met when I moved to Fayette

County," said Cox, a Republican whose 105th District

covers part of Fayette "I was teaching government,

and had invited some local officials to speak to the

class.

"He

made such an impression on me, through his attitude and

demeanor and how he presented himself to the kids, and

the things he did for Fayette County in the

legislature."

The idea of

honoring Heard by naming the highway after him actually

came from Lynn Westmoreland, another member of the

Fayette delegation, said Cox. Westmoreland, R-104th,

suggested that Cox introduce the bill because Heard lived

in her district.

"When

Lynn said something about it, I jumped on it," said

Cox, adding she expects quick approval of the bill.

"They think a lot of Paul here [in the House of

Representatives]; they really do," she said.

Transportation

Committee Chairman Rep. Jimmy Benefield has

enthusiastically endorsed the idea, she added.

Cox has

submitted the information in the bill to Helen Heard,

Paul's widow, "to make sure we get everything in the

bill that needs to be in it," she said, adding she

hopes to introduce it next week.

Both the

Fayette County Commission and the Fayetteville City

Council have endorsed the idea of naming their portions

of the highway for Heard.

Heard

served in the legislature 1983-92, and was minority

leader during his last two years. He ran for governor in

1994.

He was a

member of the City Council of Peachtree City 1978-79.