June 28 designated as Eliot and Muriel Battle Day after bill signing

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

June 28 of each year will be recognized in the state of Missouri as Eliot and Muriel Battle Day.

Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe signed Senate Bill 1544 on Monday, which modifies state designations.

Among those designations is a day to honor Eliot Battle, the first Black faculty member at Hickman High School, and Muriel Battle, the first Black principal in the Columbia Public School District.

Battle High School in Columbia is named for Muriel Battle. Battle Elementary School was named in honor of Eliot Battle.

Other designations

Several other cities and entities were recognized in the bill. May 10 is designated as Missouri River Runner Day.

The City of Belle is designated as the “Cowbell Capital” of state and the city is one of two towns designated as “Missouri Rock Island Trail communities,” along with the City of Bland.

Bland will also be known as “The Silver City of the Rock Island Trail" of the state.

The bill also designates the St. Louis Battlehawks as the official professional football team in the state, if the Kansas City Chiefs move. The Chiefs had announced the move to Kansas this past December.