SALEM — A section of East Pershing Street has been given a new name in honor of a hall of fame coach.

In its meeting Tuesday, city council voted unanimously to approve an ordinance which will give the section of East Pershing Street in front of Sebo Stadium between Lincoln and Ohio avenues the honorary designation “Earle Bruce Way” in memory of the eponymous hall of fame coach.

As an honorary designation, the name change will not affect postal addresses and will simply be denoted with signage.

The honorary designation was proposed by Salem Athletic Hall of Fame Chairman Matt Mowery and was first considered in an April 21 meeting of the public services committee, and the ordinance was given its first reading in the city council’s last meeting on May 7.

In that public services committee meeting, Mowery said the designation would be “a meaningful way to honor not only [Bruce’s] accomplishments on the field, but also his deep ties to Salem and the influence he has had on generations of athletes,” in addition to Bruce’s induction into the Salem Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2026.

Bruce began his lengthy head coaching career in Salem in 1956 and led the Quakers to a record of 9-1 in 1958 and 8-1 in 1960, finishing his coaching career in Salem with a record of 28-9 over the course of four seasons. After leaving Salem, Bruce served as the head coach of several college football programs including the University of Tampa, Iowa State University, University of Northern Iowa, Colorado State University, and the Ohio State University, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002.

City council will meet next at 7 p.m. on June 2.