Since the current Muskogee High School was built in 1967 on Shawnee Bypass, the access road running in front of the school has been known by students and townsfolk alike as Rougher Road. But despite efforts over the years to get the road officially designated as such, the mile long asphalt strip has been known as E. Shawnee Road. UNTIL NOW.

On September 29, after a vote a week earlier by the Muskogee City Council, the road finally received its honorary designation as Rougher Road as part of the “Rougher Road Trip” themed Homecoming Week activities. The struggle to have a Rougher Road with its own street sign goes back to 2010 when Terry Brossett, who was the senior class sponsor at the time, and the senior class asked the council to designate Shawnee Bypass as Rougher Road. However, protests from Bacone College and a chiropractor located in area sank the proposal. But Brossett didn’t give up, and she and the Student Leadership Council came up with the idea of asking the city to give the access road an honorary street designation of Rougher Road. “We have a new Rougher Village and a new front entrance to the school, and we had several suggestions that the road in front of the school should have a new name and be called Rougher Road,” said Brossett. The idea moved through the Public Works Committee and eventually the City Council which gave its blessing on September 22. The dedication ceremony was attended by students, staff and community leaders with Mayor Patrick Cale speaking about the road’s significance and helped reveal, along with students, the new street sign.

Muskogee senior Emerson Toney praised the hard work of all to achieve the goal. “I am so proud of everything we’ve done the past couple of years. The leadership council as a whole is so proud to be a Rougher.” For students and alumni, Rougher Road will represent both a physical place and a lasting symbol of community pride.