With bright blue skies and a gentle breeze, it was just the type of Sunday afternoon that the late Mike Thurston would have enjoyed a bicycle ride with the Slo-Spokes, the biking group he co-founded along with Maureen Welton. Thurston was killed in a tragic accident on September 18 while participating in a group ride along rural Daviess County roads.
Sunday, at an event sponsored by Washington’s Bicentennial Committee to commemorate his contributions to Washington, Thurston was memorialized by his friends and the City of Washington. The Bicentennial Committee dedicated a bicycle rack and plaque at Washington’s Eastside Park in Thurston’s honor. Washington Mayor Joe Wellman and Bicentennial co-chairman Don Spillman welcomed the cyclists in the group ride and talked about Thurston’s contributions to the fabric of Washington. Just before the ride Thurston’s son, Josh, talked to the crowd about his father’s love of Washington.
A large group of cyclists then took a memorial ride around the city to promote bicycle safety. The theme of the Sunday’s memorial ride was Share the Road and cyclists received blinking safety lights. Safety lights were also given to the Power House.