El Paso Times, April 14, 2003
Gary Scharrer
gscharrer@elpasotimes.com
Trekkies like Haggerty's I-10 bill
Pat Haggerty probably doesn't know how popular he is.
The El Paso Republican will present legislation to a House committee Tuesday that has produced at least 800 e-mail messages from around the world, if not the galaxy.
They've come from Italy, Belgium, China, France, Turkey, Switzerland, Spain, Holland, Denmark and dozens more. A few are hard to read for anyone not understanding Russian. A couple of the more interesting ones came from 'Vulcan" and "The Terran Solar System'.
They all support Haggerty's HB 949 to rename that portion of I-10 that runs through El Paso for Gene Roddenberry, an El Paso native, who created the Star Trek series.
"I'm not sure how the DPS is going to handle the arrival of the Vulcans, descendants of Mr. Spock, to the hearing," says Rep. Norma Chávez, D-El Paso, chair of the Border and International Affairs Committee, which will consider Haggerty's legislation.
There's even a Web site dedicated to the effort.
"Gene Roddenberry has touched so many lives that it would only be right that a freeway named after him (and) have thousands of people smile when they drive part of the 10 HWY," wrote Glenn Potter of La Habra, Calif.
"The good that Gene has done for the world should live on forever. I have heard of many other people getting this kind of honour for very much less of reasons," wrote Sharen Williams of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
And what's Haggerty's response to the outpouring of support for his bill?
"Just goes to show you what's important in the world," he says.
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State likely to rename I-10 for 'Star Trek' creator
AUSTIN -- "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry probably will have Interstate 10 named after him in his hometown of El Paso.
No one opposed the idea Tuesday when Rep. Pat Haggerty, R-El Paso, presented legislation to the House Border and International Affairs to name the interstate running through El Paso as the Gene Roddenberry Star Trek Memorial Highway.
The creator of the "Star Trek" series and the Starship Enterprise was born in El Paso in 1921 but spent much of his childhood in Los Angeles. He died in 1991.
Hundreds of "Star Trek" fans supported Haggerty's bill, HB 949, through e-mails to the Texas Capitol.
"That response could result in Trekkies actually visiting El Paso to know the birthplace of the mastermind of 'Star Trek,' " said Rep. Norma Chávez, D-El Paso, who heads the Border and International Affairs Committee.
The committee is expected to vote today to recommend full House approval of Haggerty's legislation. The bill is expected to land on the House Local and Consent Calendar because it is noncontroversial.
"It's going to cost the highway department a couple of signs," Haggerty said.
Committee members had only one question for Haggerty. "What about, 'Beam me up, Scottie'?" Rep. Tommy Merritt, R-Longview, asked.
Haggerty answered, "I think that usually happens in Longview. That's where most of the UFOs are spotted."
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El Paso Times, April 19, 2003 Editorial
Fit for a freeway
Recognizing Roddenberry is an excellent idea
It's no secret that El Paso has too few out-of-this-world attention-grabbing opportunities. So when some El Pasoans try to come up with ideas to grab a little fun publicity, it makes sense.
State Rep. Pat Haggerty's House Bill 949, which seeks to name the portion of Interstate 10 that runs through El Paso the "Gene Roddenberry Star Trek Memorial Highway" is a clever idea. After all, the famous creator of the "Star Trek" series was born here in 1921.
Millions of people around the globe are fans of Roddenberry's famous series which, 13 years after his death, continues to inspire TV series, books and movies. Many "Star Trek" fans shell out bucks for memorabilia, books, collectibles and conventions.
However, what began with a simple intention to create some positive publicity for El Paso is taking a turn toward the controversial. Some El Pasoans are offended by Roddenberry's humanist philosophies and irreverent view of organized religions. Others say war time and a period of severe state budget cuts in Texas is no time to consider naming a highway for a Hollywood TV producer.
But this effort was kicked off before the war, pushed by the many fans who still enjoy Roddenberry's work. And interestingly, many El Pasoans may not know that Roddenberry was a decorated World War II veteran, a B-17 pilot who flew 89 missions in the South Pacific. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal and other service honors. He also was a police officer for 13 years (Los Angeles Police Department).
El Paso was Roddenberry's birthplace, so it makes sense to try to capitalize on that. And many famous people, including presidents, statesmen and other public heroes held beliefs that infuriated some, and impressed others.
Roddenberry's "Star Trek," though only TV fiction, doesn't have historic implications. But his work continues to delight and inspire millions of viewers with themes aimed at mankind's intellectual, social and political evolution toward unity and away from mankind's history of violence.
Trying to capitalize on the achievements of one of El Paso's famous natives is a normal endeavor of progressive cities. Haggerty's bill shouldn't be burned at the stake simply because some hold fast to the parochial view that those whose opinions veer from mainstream orthodoxy aren't worthy of recognition.
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Roddenberry freeway-naming proposal hits a rough spot
The naming of the El Paso portion of I-10 for "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry is no longer on a fast track.
Legislation by Rep. Pat Haggerty, R-El Paso, to honor the El Paso native sailed through the House Border and International Affairs Committee and only lack of a quorum prevented a vote to place it on the local and consent calendar.
No one opposed the idea when Haggerty presented the bill before the committee. But news of the effort kicked up some opposition the following day in El Paso.
"It's no longer a slam dunk," says Border Chairwoman Norma Cháávez, D-El Paso. "It's created a lot of interest, but some opposition is starting to hit from El Paso."
The El Paso City Council is scheduled to discuss it Tuesday.
Some opponents wonder what Roddenberry has done for El Paso to justify renaming a freeway. Henry Garcia of Clint referred to Roddenberry as "anti-Christian" in e-mails to local and state officials.
"I don't know what kind of staffs you folks in the legislature have, but I can tell you that if this gets passed, it will create the biggest stir since Chagra had the judge killed," Garcia said in his correspondence. "I strongly suggest that you pull that bill from the state legislature or be the laughingstock of the nation."
El Paso City Rep. Larry Medina says he agrees with Garcia and others who oppose the idea.
Though Roddenberry was born in El Paso, he "never did give a second thought to our great city," Medina says.
Roddenberry was born in El Paso 81 years ago at 1907 E. Yandell but spent most of his childhood in Los Angeles.
Supporters of naming El Paso's I-10 for Roddenberry created a Web site: www.grmhpetition.org/
El Pasoan Terri Donawell created the Web site last year. She's not bothered by debate over the issue because it's part of democracy, she says.
"We all can have our say in this country, as well as our views. It is not up to me to judge or wonder about anybody's motivation for or against," she says. "I think it is a good way to tribute El Paso's most famous native son -- others have the same tribute in this city that did not even come from here. And if the tribute also brings in tourism, that's great."
Legislators are smart enough "to sift through what is real and what isn't. My only real concern is that we might run out of time," says Donawell, a legal assistant and longtime El Pasoan.
She and other Trekkies contend that Roddenberry was not anti-Christian and that his religious beliefs shouldn't matter. Haggerty says the flap doesn't surprise him because any effort to name something for someone usually draws both support and opposition.