Texas' House of Representatives voted unanimously Thursday in favor of renaming Highway 191 in Ector County to Chris Kyle Memorial Highway.

KOSA-TV reported the vote Thursday.

House Bill 1483 calls for markers at each end of the highway indicating the new designation in honor of the veteran Navy SEAL sniper who served four tours in Iraq, where he proved to be the most effective sniper in U.S. military history. (His skills earned him the nickname "The Devil of Ramadi" from enemy insurgents.)  The act would take affect on September 1, 2017.

In 2013, Kyle and a friend, Chad Littlefield, were fatally shot by Eddie Ray Routh outside of a shooting range in Erath County.

In 2015, Governor Greg Abbott declared February 2 "Chris Kyle Day" in Texas, and a memorial plaza honoring the American Sniper was unveiled in July of 2016.

 

More From KUSJ-FM