Bridge now carries namesake’s legacy into future

When Steven J. Ronio died at the age of 62 while in a wreck coming home from work around 5:20 p.m. Dec. 14, 2016, it was the end of his shift as a builder who bridged the gap between cities and towns throughout Oklahoma and especially close to his home of Lawton.

Now, the North Sheridan Road bridge over Rogers Lane carries his name to remember him as well as to remind drivers to be safe because everything can change in a moment. Its location is within a half-mile of his fatal wreck as well as a half-mile from his family home.

Ronio’s daughter Melissa Maldonado brought dozens of her father’s friends, former co-workers, families and dignitaries together Saturday to the LO Ranch clubhouse for a dedication ceremony of the newly christened Steven J. Ronio Memorial Bridge.

“I’m going to try and get through this and not to cry,” she said. “We decided we wanted to do this bridge for my dad and to remind people driving by that bridge is there’s a hazard there. Everything can change in a matter of seconds.”

First noting her father’s dedication as being a loving family man who worked tirelessly to provide for his wife of 44 years, Donna, and their two children, Maldonado spoke of Ronio’s life as a builder. Beginning his career with Tuck Construction in 1970, over the next 10 years he laid utility lines, did road construction in Lawton, including the initial construction phase of several Lawton neighborhoods. During this time he also did utility replacement contracts for the City of Lawton in several editions throughout the community.

Her father’s death seven years ago still resonates with Maldonado. She’d always wanted have Ronio remembered through a bridge dedication but was told the process couldn’t begin until three years after his death. It took longer to get started, she said. But in March of this year, she began working through it to get it done.

Maldonado credited State Representative Daniel Pae with pushing through the act to rename the bridge. Pae said he was honored to be a part of this process and will always remember it as his first time doing this as a representative.

“He led an impressive life; he was a great man,” he said. “I’m just doing my job as a state representative to help you all remember him.”

During his life, Ronio had intentions to run for the Ward 2 City Council seat, Maldonado said. He didn’t have the opportunity.

On Saturday, current Ward 2 Councilman Kelly Harris said he appreciated Ronio’s legacy being remembered.

“We’re very proud to have a bridge named in his honor,” he said.

Maldonado thanked Lawton Fire Chief Jared Williams and Major Michael Dooley for being among those at the dedication. Dooley was one of the first responders at the scene of Ronio’s wreck.

Lawton Police Detective Clay Houseman and Sgt. Matt Whittington were among the first to respond to Ronio’s wreck. They’ve worked many serious and/or fatal wrecks on Rogers Lane over the years. Houseman said Ronio’s name on the bridge is fitting.

“We all know how dangerous it (Rogers Lane) is,” he said. “Hopefully in the future it will help slow people down … and drive a little bit safer.”

Ronio knew about building safer roads and bridges. In 1980, he went to work with Bruton Construction while also working at Tuck Construction. Through that, he helped lay infrastructure throughout Lawton. For the next 18 years, he mostly did concrete bridgework throughout several towns and cities across Oklahoma, Maldonado said.

“He was instrumental in the designing, demolition, and reconstruction of bridges across our great state,” she said.

In his last 17 years of life, Ronio worked with Comanche County District No. 3 where he continued to maintain and construct roads and bridges as well as maintain county roads, creeks and so forth, Maldonado said. He also went through several training courses for Comanche County for emergency management and first responder training, safety certifications and so much more.

“His love to build and maintain bridges, roadways, highways and streets, his entire adult life across the state of Oklahoma is in part of why we feel this Sheridan Road bridge on Oklahoma 62 (Rogers Lane) should be dedicated in his memory, she said.

Maldonado said among the many passions her father had, from supporting local first responders to supporting the Holiday in the Park Christmas lights, his love for animals was unparalleled. He supported the Lawton Animal Shelter. She said he couldn’t bear to see an a dog or cat left without a home and personally rehomed over 30 animals himself so as to not leave them out on the streets alone or worse, be euthanized.

Donna Ronio spoke of how, the day before her husband’s death, he’d sent her to make sure a dog he’d seen lying in the ditch on Oklahoma 58 near the Apache intersection wasn’t left behind. He’d tried to lure it with half his lunch to no avail. She said he wanted her to get it. Hunting for hours, she said, she finally tracked down the dog as she saw it walking along a ridge back to its home.

In the end, the firmest constructed legacy left by Ronio was his bond with his family. It was built from his faith and a tireless heart for servitude, according to Donna Ronio. That tirelessness was passed on to their children who she credited for keeping her going over these past seven years. It culminated Saturday.

“I can’t tell you how much this means to me, personally,” she said.