City of Lawton considering name change

LAWTON, Okla. (AP) _ The Lawton City Council will consider a proposal tonight that may lead to breaking a century-old tradition. <br/><br/>Council members are scheduled to vote on a plan to change the

Tuesday, December 14th 2004, 6:23 am

By: News On 6

LAWTON, Okla. (AP) _ The Lawton City Council will consider a proposal tonight that may lead to breaking a century-old tradition.

Council members are scheduled to vote on a plan to change the name of the city of Lawton to Lawton-Fort Sill. If councilors approve the measure, residents would vote on it March eighth.

The idea was the brainchild of Mayor John Purcell. He says he submitted the proposal to the council because he thinks most people already think Lawton-Fort Sill is the city's legal name.

Don't tell that to longtime Lawton resident Anna McGregor. The 77-year-old has lived in Lawton since 1944 and says she doesn't understand the desire for a change.

The Lawton township sprang up overnight on a prairie south of Fort Sill in 1901.