Section 44. Lieutenant General Robert D. Springer Memorial Highway.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) Lieutenant General Robert D. Springer was born in 1933 in Millheim, Centre County, Pennsylvania.
(2) Springer earned a bachelor of arts degree in social sciences in 1964 and a master of science degree in international affairs in 1969, both from George Washington University.
(3) Springer enlisted in the United States Air Force in October 1952.
(4) Springer was deployed to Vietnam in 1965, first at Bien Hoa Air Base as an intelligence officer with the 6251st Tactical Fighter Wing and later as chief of intelligence with the 1st Air Commando Squadron at Pleiku Air Base.
(5) After completing Air War College in May 1972, Springer was assigned to Air Force headquarters as special assistant to the Air Force vice chief of staff.
(6) In June 1978, Lieutenant General Springer took command of the 435th Tactical Airlift Wing at Rhein-Main Air Base in West Germany. He then became deputy chief of staff for personnel at Military Airlift Command headquarters in August 1981.
(7) In August 1985, Springer was assigned to Air Force headquarters as Air Force inspector general.
(8) From 1987 until his retirement in 1988, Springer served as vice commander in chief of the Military Airlift Command at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois.
(9) Lieutenant General Springer was a command pilot with more than 6,000 flying hours and 72 combat missions.
(10) Lieutenant General Robert D. Springer died on August 19, 2021.
(11) Springer's military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with oak leaf cluster, National Defense Service Medal with service star, Korean Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with three service stars, Humanitarian Service Medal, Air Force Overseas Ribbon-Long, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with six oak leaf clusters, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, United Nations Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Bronze Star.
(b) Designation.--The section of Pennsylvania Route 445 from the intersection with Pennsylvania Route 45 to the intersection with Pennsylvania Route 192 in Millheim Borough and Penn Township, Centre County, is designated as the Lieutenant General Robert D. Springer Memorial Highway.
(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the roadway to traffic in both directions on the roadway.