Seattle’s street names recognize seven UW community members for their contributions to the city

Every now and then, the City of Seattle passes a resolution to name a portion of a city street in honor of an individual who has made a positive contribution. Thus, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that several individuals from the University of Washington community have been honored in that way.

Sen. George Fleming Way on 43rd Avenue South between South Othello Street and South Webster Street. Fleming, ’64, was a former Husky and NFL football star who went on enjoy a long career in state politics, including two years in the state House of Representatives and 20 in the state Senate.

Bill Burton Way is on South Oregon Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and 31st Avenue South. Burton, ’73, was a legend in his South Seattle neighborhood for growing up in the projects to becoming the longtime leader of the Boys & Girls Club in Rainier Vista. He graduated from the UW with a degree in recreation planning and administration.

Chris Curtis Way is University Way Northeast from Northeast 50th Street to Northeast 52nd Street. Curtis, ’73, is the founder of the University District Farmers Market and the Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance, which operates seven farmers markets in the Emerald City.

Alan Sugiyama Way is 15th Avenue South from South Nevada Street to South Columbian Way. Sugiyama, ’84, was the first Asian American member of the Seattle School Board. He founded the Center for Career Alternatives, which focused on providing education and job training. South Lake High School was renamed the Alan T. Sugiyama Hgih School at South Lake.

Speight Jenkins Way is 4th Avenue North from Mercer Street to Republican Street. Jenkins graduated from the University of Texas at Austin. He taught a class at the UW on opera education focusing on the superstar soprano Maria Callas.

South Roberto Maestas Festival Street is the segment of South Lander Street between 16th Avenue South and 17th Avenue South. This street is one of six “festival” streets in Seattle, which are designed for frequent public events.

Maestas, ’66, ’71, was a member of Seattle’s “Gang of Four,” a group of civil rights leaders and activists who transformed Seattle by bringing diverse communities together for protests and direct action.

Mary Gates Memorial Drive Northeast is a portion of Union Bay Place Northeast between Northeast 41st Street and Northeast 45th Street. Mary Gates, ’50, served on the UW Board of Regents from 1975-1993 and was a community leader who promoted voluntary service and philanthropy. She was the first woman to chair the United Way International and served on several important boards at the UW.

Recognizing UW alums with roadway designations doesn’t just happen on the city level. It also happens at the state and federal levels.

: Jeanette Williams

: Albert Rosellini

: Tom Foley

The West Seattle Bridge was officially renamed the Jeanette Williams Memorial Bridge in 2009 to honor former Seattle city councilmember Jeanette Williams, ’35. She was a pivotal leader who chaired the Transportation Committee and secured more than $60 million in federal funding to make the high-level bridge project a reality in the early 1980s.

Then there is the 520 Bridge, which was named the Governor Albert D. Rosellini Bridge in 1988. It honors the Washington governor (1957–1965) who advocated for its construction. Originally called the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge when it opened in 1963, it is commonly known by the highway it carries, State Route 520.

On the federal level, one of the most effective and respected politicians ever to come out of the UW was honored in 2018 when the Washington State Transportation Commission officially designated U.S. Route 395, running from the Canadian border to the Oregon border, as the Thomas S. “Tom” Foley Memorial Highway. The 275-mile stretch in Eastern Washington was named to honor Foley, ’51, ’57, the late Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives for his role in securing more than $289 million in federal funding for improvements, including expanding the highway to four lanes between Ritzville and the Tri-Cities.