Pickett Hosts Ceremony Renaming Section of U.S. Route 220 in Tribute to Thomas “Doc” Shoemaker of Dushore

November 4, 2019

DUSHORE – A section of U.S. Route 220 was officially designated as the “T.W. ‘Doc’ Shoemaker Memorial Highway” at a ceremony Friday in Sullivan County, hosted by Rep. Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna). 

Shoemaker was a well-known veterinarian, newspaper publisher and community leader in Dushore who died in May 2018 at the age of 96. He was also a veteran who served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, working for the Manhattan Project as a chemist. 

“Everyone here in this room is truly a lover of Doc and Stevie (his wife) Shoemaker,” said Pickett during her remarks. “Whether we’re a dear friend, community members, family member, we all loved them.”

Pickett was joined at the event, which took place in the Dushore Fire Hall, by Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding, PennDOT District 3-0 Executive Sandra Tosca, elected officials from Sullivan County and Dushore Borough, and Shoemaker family members. The ceremony was held on Nov. 1 to coincide with Shoemaker’s birthday.  

“Doc was our true Renaissance man,” Dushore Councilman Dean Homer told the crowd. 

Tosca recalled how Shoemaker was genuinely interested in local transportation projects. “He and his wife really were ingrained in the community. He cared about the community and wanted it to succeed,” she said. 

Redding said Shoemaker worked as district veterinarian for the Department of Agriculture in the 60s and witnessed many advances in veterinary medicine during his 70 years of practice. Redding called Shoemaker a rare combination of “science and civic.”

“He was in the relationship business,” Redding said. “We will be reminded, when we travel this road, of somebody who was a mentor to a family, to a community – somebody who had a life well-lived.”

Members of Shoemaker’s family helped to unveil the sign that will be posted at both ends of the section of U.S. Route 220 between Dushore and the Bradford County line renamed in his honor. 

“To me, the legacy of my dad and my mom is to give back. That is an important thing that I take away from my dad’s life, and I hope that everybody else here does too,” said Tom Shoemaker, Doc’s oldest son. “We certainly appreciate the naming of the highway for my dad. We’ll never forget this. Thank you very much.”

Pickett was the prime sponsor of legislation that enabled the highway designation.  

A video of the ceremony will be available for viewing on Pickett’s website, RepPickett.com. 

Representative Tina Pickett
110th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Doc  Shoemaker