Two signs noting the proposals of the “Pettis Norman Bridge,” one for the proposed street name change and one for the proposed ceremonial street name topper. Photo by Victoria Hernandez.
The Dallas City Council voted Wednesday, Oct. 14 to honor Pettis Norman with a ceremonial renaming of the Houston Street Viaduct.
Norman, a Dallas Cowboys player from 1962-70 and District 3 resident, passed away in July 2025. He was an active civil rights advocate, working to address segregation within professional football and Dallas in the 1960s.
He was one of the first Black banking executives in Dallas and founded the Dallas Together Forum, a coalition of corporate leaders dedicated to expanding minority hiring and business contracting opportunities for women and minority-owned firms.
The initial renaming bridge request was brought forward by District 3 Council member Zarin Gracey with the support from District 4 Council member Maxie Johnson and District 8 Council member Lorie Blair. The change went through the Quality of Life, Arts, & Culture Committee in March, and was denied by the Subdivision Review Committee in June.
The City Plan Commission voted to send the item to council in August, with a majority of commissioners voting in opposition due to the historic nature of the Houston Street name.
Council deferred the initial vote for the bridge renaming scheduled for Sept. 9, bringing the item back Oct. 14, along with the ceremonial renaming option. The vote Wednesday followed a Heritage Oak Cliff community meeting hosted on Sept. 8 and a survey conducted by District 1 Council member Chad West’s office to gain resident feedback on the two proposals.
The vote passed unanimously in favor of the ceremonial renaming.
