A portion of U.S. 27, specifically from 5th Street in Newport to Highland Avenue in Fort Thomas, was officially renamed in honor of the late Patrick Crowley on Wednesday. Crowley was a fixture in the region, having worked as a journalist and later as a public relations professional.
The event, which took place at the Southgate Community Center, saw statements from Gov. Andy Beshear, state legislators, Southgate Mayor Jim Hamberg, as well as members of Crowley’s family.
Crowley, who worked for 27 years as a journalist before founding public relations firm Strategic Advisers in 2009, died Dec. 28 at the age of 63.
“He was well known in the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati community for his intelligence, humor and wit, compassion, work ethic, and abundant love of his dear family as well as the many cats and dogs that he and Pam rescued and cared for over the years,” according to a statement from his family released shortly after his death.
Crowley is survived by his wife, Pam; daughter, Shayna; son, Connor, twin grandsons and a granddaughter.
Most of Crowley’s time as a journalist was spent at the Cincinnati Enquirer, where he covered Northern Kentucky and Frankfort.
In 2007, The Kentucky Press Association named him the state’s top columnist and his 2004 series on casino gambling earned state and national awards, according to the family statement. The Washington Post selected him as one of the country’s top political reporters and political bloggers.
“He touched many lives during his brilliant lifetime and he made those lives better because of his kindness, thoughtfulness and friendship,” his family said in the statement.
Read some stories of Crowley’s life, submitted by community members, here.
Meghan Goth contributed reporting to this brief.