City considers naming street for promoter

Monday, Dec. 30, 2002 | 10:32 a.m.

ATLANTIC CITY -- In a city that already has a street named for a famous King, officials are considering naming a street for boxing promoter Don King.

The city council was scheduled to take an initial vote today on Councilman William Marsh's proposal to rename part of Mississippi Avenue, between Atlantic Avenue and the boardwalk, as Don King Boulevard.

The city has bestowed street-name honors on favorite sons and fearless leaders. Streets honor the late Mayor James Usry; John Seedor, a city firefighter who died in a 1979 blaze; and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

King, whom some city officials credit with bringing prizefighting back to Boardwalk Hall, told The Press of Atlantic City he was knocked out by the idea.

"I'm deeply honored. Oh man, this is a godsend. This is what makes America so great," he said.

Most of the block is parking lots, including Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino's garage, and empty storefronts, part of the landscape King hopes will change.

"I think of Atlantic City as a growing metropolis really born in fantasy in the Monopoly (game) board," King said. "We have to make the fantasy a reality."