On Thursday, State Representative Brooks Landgraf filed House Bill 1483 to name State Highway 191 in Ector County as the “Chris Kyle Memorial Highway.” February 2, 2017, the day Landgraf filed the legislation, marks the fourth anniversary of Kyle’s tragic death.

The stretch of highway to be named in memory of Kyle passes directly by the Chris Kyle Memorial Plaza, which prominently features a 15-foot statue of Kyle, the U.S. Navy SEAL sniper who was born in Odessa in 1974.

“I hope that by naming this highway in Chris Kyle’s memory, even more West Texans can learn of the impact and sacrifice he made in service to our country and to his fellow veterans,” Landgraf said.

The Chris Kyle statue, which is a source of pride for Odessa, was unveiled and dedicated in July 2016. Kyle’s widow, Taya, was involved with the plaza’s design and attended the dedication ceremony.

“At the Chris Kyle Memorial Plaza dedication ceremony last summer, I asked Taya if she'd like the highway named in memory of Chris, and she was excited about the idea, so I'm very proud to file this bill,” Landgraf said. “While speaking to the thousands in attendance at the ceremony, I pitched the idea to name 191 in memory of Chris Kyle, and the crowd roared with approval.”

Chris Kyle’s life story was portrayed in the film “American Sniper.” Kyle is considered one of the most lethal snipers in U.S. history, with 160 confirmed enemy kills during several tours of duty in the Iraq War. After retiring as a Navy SEAL marksman, Kyle dedicated his efforts to helping his fellow veterans transition back into civilian life.