A highway bridge sign was dedicated recently in middle Tennessee in memory of Morgan County natives Morris and Quenten Looney, both of whom served in the U.S. Army in World War II and rose to the rank of major before retiring after more than 25 years of active duty service.

The sign is located at Rich Creek Bridge on U.S. Hwy. 31A between Lewisburg and Nashville, Tenn.

The dedication ceremony was attended by Doris Looney, widow of Quenten, and Marge Looney, widow of Morris, and their families. The mayor of Lewisburg and a state senator also attended and participated in the ceremony.

Doris Looney said she worked with the Tennessee governor and his staff for a year before getting approval to have the sign installed.

The Looney brothers are sons of the late M.L. Looney who served as Hartselle police chief from 1952-62. They grew up on a farm in the Penn community near Danville and joined the Army as privates in 1937.

“I grew up with the Looney boys,” recalled Estelle Hunter Smith. “Our farms adjoined, and Quenten and Morris would water their mules at our spring.”

“Even after they joined the Army and later settled on farms in Tennessee, they would come back for Decoration Day, family reunions and community events,” she said. “They thought of Hartselle and Morgan County as their second home.”

After their retirement from the Army, both bothers settled down on farms outside of Lewisburg. Quenten died in 2009 and Morris died in 2011. Both chose to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

A highway bridge sign was dedicated recently in middle Tennessee in memory of Morgan County natives Morris and Quenten Looney, both of whom served in the U.S. Army in World War II and rose to the rank of major before retiring after more than 25 years of active duty service. | Special to the Enquirer