The Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Commission has announced it will host a ceremony April 21 to officially dedicate a roadway near Ben B. Cheney Stadium and the Heidelberg Davis Complex “Clay Huntington Way,” after the late sports broadcaster Clay Huntington.

On March 27, Tacoma City Council approved a resolution to rename South Cheyenne Street from the corner of South 19th Street near the Heidelberg Davis Complex to the entrance of Cheney Stadium in honor of Huntington, who passed away on June 1 at the age of 89. Huntington began his broadcasting career in Tacoma in 1941. He covered local sports and went on to own four stations carrying the KLAY call letters, according to KLAY’s Web site. Huntington was a sports writer for the Tacoma Times, a TAC founder, and helped establish the Washington State Sports Hall of Fame and the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame. In 1957, he created “Friends of Kids Baseball” to build what would become the Heidelberg Park sports complex for youth baseball. In 1960, he partnered with Ben B. Cheney to build a new stadium for the Tacoma Giants professional baseball team. Today, the stadium is home to the Tacoma Rainiers Triple-A baseball team.

According to organizers, the event will begin at 5:30 p.m. and include comments from a select group of Huntington’s peers and admirers. An additional ceremony will be held later that evening during the Tacoma Rainiers Triple-A baseball game versus the Fresno Grizzlies. Similarly, Tacoma City Council is scheduled to read a proclamation that will designate April 21 as “Clay’s Day.” April 21 would have been Huntington’s 90th birthday.

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Tacoma City Council approves Clay Huntington Way (03/28/12) — http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=2138237&more=0

Tacoma City Council committee OKs Clay Huntington Way (03/07/12) — http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=2126987&more=0

Support grows for Clay Huntington Way (01/26/12) — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=2105118&more=0

Public hearing planned for Huntington Way (12/29/11) — http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=2092422&more=0

Group wants street named after late Tacoma sports broadcaster Huntington (12/12/11) — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=2084058&more=0