Dr. William Hedrick crossed the Neuse River on U.S. 401 countless times in his 61-year career as a family physician in Raleigh. He and his wife, Merrie, raised cows and four children on land near the bridge they later sold to the city to become Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve.
Now that crossing will be named the Dr. William W. Hedrick Bridge to honor his life and legacy in Wake County, the state Board of Transportation decided this week.
The request to name the bridge for Hedrick came from the City of Raleigh, with support from Wake County commissioners and the Town of Wake Forest. But the idea originated with Merrie, who then delegated the work of building support to their daughter, Sallie Hedrick Bowman…