Standing atop the platform overlooking the entrance to Danville's Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, William Scott Sr. looked out over the crowd of people gathered to honor his father, Wendell O. Scott Sr., with a memorial highway.
His first thought to describe it: "it's a dream come true."
Wendell Scott's name was given to a stretch of U.S. 29, running from the southeastern corner of Danville to a northwestern point at the edge of the city limits Saturday.
Scott was inducted into the NASCAR hall of fame on Jan. 30, 2015, and also is a member of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.
Vice Mayor Lee Vogler said the dedication was a long time coming.
"I think it is a wonderful tribute to one of Danville's greatest native sons," Vogler said after the pronouncement. "I think it is appropriate that it is not only a road, but a highway - where you are going with a little more speed than your typical street."
Scott's grandson, Warrick Scott, established a foundation in his grandfather's name, providing STEM tutoring along with after-school and summer programs for at-risk and underserved youth. He said his grandfather was a charitable person who dreamed of giving back to his beloved hometown.
"Wendell Scott was about the underserved, underprivileged population. That is what he lived for. That is where his passion lied," Warrick Scott said.
--- Danville Register Bee ---