Street Smarts (2)

Jesse Owens grew up here before winning glory at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Artist Viktor Schreckengost designed a multitude of beloved consumer products, including the banana-seat bicycle. City Council recently honored both men by attaching their names to Public Square's East Roadway and the Theater District's East 17th Street, respectively. It got us wondering how many other people council has honored this way over the years. The list of nearly three dozen honorees was longer and more unusual than we expected.

Names You Know

Bob Hope Way

East 14th Street

After growing up in Cleveland, Bob Hope had a career that stretched from vaudeville to television, making it fitting that this Theater District street bears his name.

Ted Gin St. Avenue

Gray Avenue between East 113th and East 124th streets

The Glenville football coach was honored after leading the team to four Senate championships and three state playoffs.

Jerry Siegel Lane

Kimberly Avenue

The Superman co-creator's childhood home, where the idea for the Man of Steel was conceived, still stands here. Joe Schuster Lane and Lois Lane are nearby.

Frankie Yankovic Square

East 152nd Street and Waterloo Road

He was the Elvis of the accordion and grew up in a home near this Collinwood neighborhood intersection.

Gerald Levert Lane

East 25th Street between Superior and St. Clair avenues

The acclaimed R&B singer and 1984 Shaker Heights High School graduate received the honor following his untimely death at age 40.

Names You Don't

Anna 'Mama' Chatman Way

East 140th Street

The wife of the Rev. M.C. Chatman started the city's annual Labor Day Parade and March Against Violence Parade.

Daniel's Way

West Second Street

The late Daniel Thompson was a civil rights activist and advocate for the homeless. He was named poet laureate of Cuyahoga County in 1992.

Sr. Ignatia Way

East 22nd Street

Beloved nun Sister Mary Ignatia Gavin helped Dr. Bob Smith found Alcoholics Anonymous by bending hospital rules to get care for detoxing patients.

Artha Woods Street

East 89th Street

The longtime councilwoman also managed boxers, started a racially pioneering modeling agency and was a mentor to actress Jayne Kennedy.