UTICA – Family and friends filled the Utica Volunteer Fire Department’s social hall last Friday, July 31, to remember New Bethlehem-native Earle Chandler as a bridge near Wyatville in Venango County was dedicated in his memory.
Chandler, a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) engineer in District 1 (Erie, Crawford, Warren, Mercer, Venango and Forest counties), died Aug. 1, 2006, when a dump truck fatally struck him on a job site near Union City as he was providing instructions to a new worker.
At the time of his passing, the 48-year-old Chandler lived in Meadville with his wife and three daughters. He was interred in New Bethlehem’s Squirrel Hill Cemetery.
State Rep. R. Lee James, who serves the 64th legislative district consisting of Crawford and Venango counties, included the bridge in a bill recognizing other memorial designations throughout the state. Governor Josh Shapiro signed the legislation on June 30, 2025.
As part of the ceremony, James read a portion of the state House of Representatives’ citation that officially dedicated the bridge in Chandler’s name.
“Bridge key 33747 carrying U.S. 322 over Sugar Creek is to be dedicated to the memory of Earle James Chandler. He who crosses the bridge will be reminded of his spirit and service to humanity. It stands as a testament to Mr. Chandler’s enduring legacy of service to the people of Pennsylvania.”
Brian McNulty, PennDOT District 1 executive, issued a written statement regarding the honor.
“Earle was known to have a larger-than-life personality that made an impression on all those who had the pleasure of working with him,” McNulty said. “In the same way, his passing continues to impact our employees as we continue to cultivate an environment of safety.
“As we mark the 20th anniversary of his passing, it is a fitting time to officially rename this bridge in his memory, a bridge that he often traveled across during his commute from his home to the District 1 office.”
During an interview prior to the event, James reported, “This was actually a collective effort of a number of different people [the naming of the bridge]. We worked with the folks at PennDOT for a long time to make sure everything went right.
“We wanted everything right for the family, because that’s important. The most important thing we’re doing here is recognizing their dad, their husband, their very good friend.”
Chandler’s family appreciated the tribute that the naming of the bridge represents.
“We’re very honored and happy to see it happen. We’re very honored that it’s happening,” commented Chandler’s twin sister, Carrye Barrett of New Bethlehem. “They talked about doing it for a while, but then they had to have the correct bridge and the right location and get through all that red tape.”
“It’s 20 years since it happened and it’s been in the works for a while. They finally found an appropriate bridge in the right location.”
Chandler’s daughter, Emily Hagy, thought naming a bridge for her father was apt, as noted in the remarks she shared during the ceremony.
“It is especially fitting that a bridge now bears the name of a man who spent his career helping build and maintain the roads and bridges that connect our communities, whose life connected so may people through faith, friendship, kindness and love,” Hagy said. “May all who cross this bridge be reminded of Earle Chandler’s legacy and inspired to carry forward the values he lived each day.”
In addition to James, other dignitaries on hand included state Sen. Scott Hutchinson of the 21st District; Julie Swartzfager on behalf of Mike Kelly, the U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania’s 16th Congressional District; Venango County commissioners Sam Breen, Ken Bryan and Tim Heffernan; and Dax Nulph representing PennDOT.
Chandler previously had a bench dedicated to him on the Redbank Valley Trail. Located in an opening facing the Redbank Valley High School sports field across Broad Street, people regularly sit on the bench to watch soccer and football games according to Barrett and Chandler’s oldest sister, Peg Watkins, also of New Bethlehem.
Said Barrett in reminiscence, “He was always pulling pranks. Even in high school [at Redbank Valley] he was always pulling pranks on everybody. He was very active in church, very active in sports in high school and out [he was a member of the Bulldogs’ football team], he played slow pitch softball, he coached his girls’ soccer teams.”
Continued Watkins, “He just had a personality that people liked. He would do anything for you, give you the shirt off his back. He loved his job. Everybody knew him and had a story about him.”
Since 1970, 93 PennDOT employees have lost their lives in the line of duty, including 15 since Chandler
“Safety first, always be cautious,” offered Barrett on what she hopes people take away from her brother’s passing and subsequent recognition. “I’m always amazed how many people have lost their lives in PennDOT.”
Remarked James, “Well beyond the fact that we are recognizing Earle as a great citizen, I think the other thing to remember is when you see a construction site and the guys wearing yellow and orange shirts walking around, slow down.
“Be careful; those are the dads and the moms and the brothers and the sisters of people out in the community. All of them are loved. Just be careful.”