VERO BEACH – State Road 60 was christened Thursday The Stan Mayfield Memorial Highway during a dedication ceremony. Mayfield passed away after a long bout with esophageal cancer 13 months ago and would have turned 54 today.
“One of his first projects was the widening of State Road 60,” said architect Anthony Donadio of Mayfield. “This road now provides our community with a safer route to the West Coast (of Florida) and a much needed and improved hurricane evacuation route.”
The ceremony was moving, as the former State Representative of District 80 was remembered for his competitive spirit and love for challenging projects.
“It’s an honor and privilege for me to stand here today in front of the Mayfield family as we dedicate this portion of State Road 60 (West of I-95 to the Florida Turnpike) as the Stan Mayfield Memorial Highway,” Donadio added. “Putting together the resolution for this dedication and gathering support for it took a lot of time and effort by many people in our community.”
With a B.S. in Civil Engineering from University of Florida, and as a man who had his own construction firm (Mayfield Group Construction), Mayfield had an affinity for big projects. He won praise for bringing in $150 million in projects to the county that included the construction of eight new schools and the remodeling of 10 others.
Former State Senate President Ken Pruitt recognized Mayfield’s family in hosting the dedication.
“Stan received his unshakable strength from his family,” said Pruitt. “The State Road 60 project was just like Stan – it was big. Being an engineer, it was a challenge he was all too eager to take on.”
“The pride and joy in Stan’s life were his boys Evan, Samuel, and Coleman,” Pruitt continued. “His wife, Debbie, was the love of his life spiritually, mentally and physically. She continues the public service Stan revered and is carrying on the legacy started by her husband. Let no one doubt that this public servant is leaving her mark in Tallahassee.”
Debbie Mayfield is the current State Representative for District 80, winning last November’s election for the seat her husband held from 2000-2008. She gave thanks to the many political friends who came out to show their support for her and her late husband.
“This community has been so grateful to us, and on behalf of my family I want to say thank you,” said Mayfield. “It was the best thing we ever did when we moved to Vero Beach in 1989.”