Kentucky can now add one more item to its list of state “symbols”… the Corvette. April 26, 2010 Governor Steve Beshear signed House Bill 104 - an act designating the Corvette as the official state sports car of Kentucky.“Since 1953, the Corvette has been considered America’s sports car. As home to the Corvette plant in Bowling Green, Kentuckians have long considered the Corvette to be Kentucky’s sports car and a great symbol of Kentucky pride and craftsmanship. House Bill 104, which was passed during the 2010 General Assembly, now makes that designation official. It was with great pleasure that I signed HB 104 into law,” said Governor Beshear.
A companion bill (Senate Bill 111) was first introduced by State Senator Mike Reynolds, D-Bowling Green in January. “Bowling Green is becoming more of a tourist destination. The National Corvette Museum is a major part of that and is a definite drawing card for the traveling public. Drawing attention to our community and the Corvette’s unique role in our American heritage can only boost economic development for our area,” said Reynolds.
Representative Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green, is the primary sponsor of HB 104. “I am pleased that we were able to move this legislation during the late hours of the session,” Senator Reynolds said. “I want to commend my colleague, Rep. Jody Richards, for his hard work on pushing this bill in the House.”
Bowling Green, Kentucky is home to both the General Motors Corvette Assembly Plant (the only place in the world Corvettes have been manufactured since 1981) and the National Corvette Museum, a non-profit foundation with a mission of celebrating the invention of the Corvette and preserving its past, present and future since 1994.
"With the Chevrolet Corvette being one of the most recognizable symbols of Kentucky, it only makes sense for the car to be designated as the state's official sports car.
Many people who think of Kentucky, think of Corvette. Our workforce is proud to have been building the Corvette in Bowling Green for almost 29 years," said GM Bowling Green Assembly Plant Manager Bob Parcell.
The act reads as follows:
AN ACT designating the Corvette as the official state sports car of Kentucky.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:
SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 2 IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS:
The Corvette is named and designated the official state sports car of Kentucky.
A ceremonial signing of the act is planned to take place this summer in Bowling Green.
