Tuscaloosa Renames 6th Street To Honor Gary Fitts

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The City of Tuscaloosa on Thursday held a street renaming for 6th Street in Tuscaloosa, which will now be known as Gary Fitts Street

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Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, Councilor Lee Busby and Forrest Fitts each spoke during the ceremony Thursday morning.

"I feel his presence now as we're here today to recognize his lifetime of doing the right thing in service to God, his family, his country and his community," Forrest Fitts said. "My family is honored by this recognition and we thank you all for being here with us today."

Travis Gary Fitts was born on Nov. 21, 1933 in Tuscaloosa and obtained his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University before going on to attend flight school in Pensacola, Florida.

The City of Tuscaloosa says Fitts served as a naval aviator in the Marine Corps reserves for over 30 years and returned to Tuscaloosa in 1959 to work with his father, Jim Fitts Jr. in their family business — Fitts Agency, Inc.

The firm would go on to become one of the largest independent insurance agencies in west Alabama by the time Fitts retired.

Fitts passed away on May 28, 2022 at the age of 88

"Gary Fitts was a difference maker in his life. He treated everyone with respect," Maddox said. "And when the City takes an opportunity to rename one of its thoroughfares, this is absolutely the standard we should have."

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