Commuters crossing the Gila River Bridge on State Route 79 will notice a new sign designating the passage as the Rusty Greer Memorial Bridge. This dedication comes over five decades after a tragic accident that claimed the life of 12-year-old Rusty Greer, who was struck by a vehicle in 1972 during a Boy Scout bike ride aimed at earning a merit badge. The renaming occurred on November 1 and marks a long-awaited commemoration of a local tragedy, according to Pinal County.
In April 1972, current Pinal County District 2 Supervisor Mike Goodman was also riding his bike. Years later, Goodman, alongside Rusty's brother Doug, successfully advocated for renaming the bridge to honor the young boy's memory and keep his story alive in the community, as reported by Pinal County.
