St. Landry Parish, LA (KPLC) – Ever wonder about the stories behind the names of streets and bridges? A bill will name a stretch of I-49 in the community of St. Landry to honor an Iowa woman.
“I think there was something magical about her, because she was just so full of energy, so full of life,” said David Vincent.
Hannah Vincent will be remembered as passionate, headstrong and a pillar of the farming community.
A native of Iowa, he had a knack for farming. She later brought that love into the classroom at Opelousas High School as a third-generation agriculture teacher.
“I am, so is my wife, so is Hannah,” Vincent said, “that was her thing.”
She was dedicated to her students and even worked on her day off to prepare them for an FFA conference.
In 2018, Vincent died in a car accident on I-49 near Opelousas.
“Basically, she gave her dying breath to the FFA and the farming community,” Vincent said.
Vincent told 7News he reached out to local representatives after he came up with the idea of commemorating part of the highway as a tribute to Hannah. Now another bill is under consideration that will help honor those who have been a bright light in their community.
“I want everyone to know what Hannah did, what your child might or might be,” Vincent said. “It doesn’t have to be in agriculture. Just focus on the things you want to have done in your life and how you can achieve success if you keep fighting and not giving up.
The bill is sponsored by State Rep. Troy Romero (R – Jennings). It will rename a portion of I-49 the Hannah Lee Vincent Memorial Highway.
“Though Hannah is gone, her memory will always be with us, and of course we want to keep her in Southwest Louisiana,” Vincent said.
Copyright 2023 KPLC. All rights reserved.
Source