The City of Knoxville and Knoxville RAGBRAI committee received a thank you letter last month regarding a special gift. During RAGBRAI, the intersection of Robinson and Second Streets was renamed the “Paul Ladd Memorial Intersection” in memory of a longtime RAGBRAI rider who died in a training accident. Signs that were hung on the stoplights at that intersection were given to Ladd’s widow.

She recently thanked the community for that memorial recognition during RAGBRAI’s stop in Knoxville. Debbie Ladd says that Paul was not just a Marine veteran, but also served as Veterans’ Affairs officer in Boone County. Debbie says that they appreciate the impact that Knoxville has had on veterans as the former home of a VA Hospital and says that the community has a special place in her heart.