Dilworth Honored With Road Naming Today

The state honors a Northeast Georgia broadcasting legend.

At a ceremony in downtown Lavonia on Friday, officials gathered to officially dedicate Ga. Highway 59 from downtown Lavonia to Ga. Highway 164/Bold Springs Road in Franklin County as the “Billy Dilworth Memorial Highway.”

Dilworth died last July at the age of 80.

A native of Red Hill in Franklin County, Dilworth hosted “The Billy Dilworth Show” for over 20 years on WLET Radio and WNEG-TV.

Dilworth also worked for the Anderson Independent and several other newspapers through the years.

One of the speakers at Friday’s road naming ceremony was Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame member Bill Anderson.

Anderson said Dilworth was a wonderful friend.

“What an unselfish man,” said Anderson. “What a beautiful man. What an honor to see that sign over there that says the ‘Billy Dilworth Memorial Highway.’ I hope every time you ride on it and every time you see that sign, I hope you will think about that man because he touched every life here, I guarantee it, in one way or another. There is not one person standing here and not many listening that Billy Dilworth did not touch in one way or another. This is our way of saying ‘thank you’.”

Anderson said he could think of no better way to honor Dilworth than naming a road after him because he “wore the roads of northeast Georgia out.”

One of his long-time TV co-hosts was Michelle Austin.

She said this honor is very well-deserved.

“I wish Billy were here to see it first and foremost,” she said. “He would be very, very pleased, I think. I was so happy to hear they were doing this. I think it is quite an honor.”

Michelle’s husband, Toccoa City Commissioner David Austin, also worked with Dilworth for many years and filled in as host of the show on numerous occasions.

He said he thinks honoring Dilworth with a highway is a great idea.

“Billy has been a part of the fabric of this area, the Stephens County and Franklin County area for so many years and so many people knew him and listened to him on the radio and saw him on television,” he said. “I think the public will think this is a fitting tribute to his memory.”

The House resolution to honor Dilworth and dedicate the highway was sponsored by State Reps. Alan Powell (R-32nd) and Terry Rogers (R-10th).

Powell said Dilworth always had an interest in and knowledge about politics.

“If you ever wanted to know where Billy stood on something, you did not even have to ask him because if you watched his show on Saturday night, he was certainly going you let you know where he stood,” said Powell. “What a great man he was and what a great person to dedicate this road for.”

In the resolution, they commended Dilworth for his journalistic integrity, professionalism, and dedication to entertaining and informing his audience.