HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — City leaders and the family of Joe Ramirez gathered on Friday morning to witness the installation of a new sign bearing his name in east Houston.<\/p>\n
A brand-new sign reading “MSG Joe E. Ramirez Boulevard” was unveiled to cheers as the community welcomed a new street name for a man many knew and loved.<\/p>\n
“We take great pride in the fact that one of our own, somebody who grew up here in East End in Magnolia Park, is being recognized with a sign that all of us will be able to see for generations to come,” Joe Ramirez, Jr. said.<\/p>\n
Ramirez enlisted in the military at 18 years old and was deployed to serve in the Korean War, where he was shot and taken captive as a prisoner of war for three years. He eventually returned home to Houston and continued a life of service, focusing this time instead on his community.<\/p>\n
He was also the recipient of a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart for his military service. Raimrez died in 2020 at the age of 89.<\/p>\n
On May 27, the Houston City Council voted unanimously to rename Cesar Chavez Boulevard to MSG Joe E. Ramirez Boulevard. Renaming the street has been a topic of discussion ever since sexual abuse allegations against Chavez emerged in March. Ramirez was selected for the honor of the newly renamed boulevard.<\/p>\n