Reps. Brennan and Mathews Unveil "SPC Louis P. Shuster Memorial Interchange" Sign in Cleveland
COLUMBUS – State Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan (D–Parma) and Ty Mathews (R–Findlay) joined family members, fellow veterans, members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), community leaders, and local officials to unveil the new “SPC Louis P. Shuster Memorial Interchange” sign at the interchange of Interstate 480 and West 150th Street in Cleveland.
Reps. Brennan and Mathews jointly sponsored the legislation designating the interchange in honor of Louis P. Shuster, a United States Army veteran, longtime railroad worker, union leader, veterans advocate, father, son, brother, and community member who was tragically killed in a railroad accident on March 7, 2023. He was 46 years old.
“Lou Shuster dedicated his life to service,” said Rep. Brennan. “First, he answered the call to serve our country as a Specialist in the United States Army. When his military service ended, his commitment to serving others did not. He continued that mission as a railroad engineer, a union leader, an advocate for veterans, and a devoted father and son. I am proud to have worked alongside Rep. Mathews to ensure that Lou's name and legacy will remain a permanent part of the community where he worked and served. This sign is more than a memorial. It is a reminder of a veteran who never stopped serving.”
“Louis Shuster represents the very best of what it means to serve,” said Rep. Mathews. “He served our country in the United States Army, continued serving his fellow veterans, and dedicated his professional life to the railroad industry and his union brothers and sisters. It is an honor to join Rep. Brennan and the Shuster family in recognizing his life and legacy.”
Louis P. Shuster began his railroad career in 2005 as a conductor and was promoted to locomotive engineer in 2014. He joined the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen in 2016 and served as the Veterans Affairs Delegate for Norfolk Southern and the Wheeling & Lake Erie.
His commitment to veterans reflected the values he developed during his military service. Shuster was known for helping veterans who worked on the railroad as well as veterans throughout the community.
On March 7, 2023, Shuster was working aboard a Norfolk Southern railcar near the Cleveland-Cliffs steel mill when a dump truck struck the front left side of the train car. Shuster, who was positioned on the outside of the railcar while performing his duties, was struck and killed.
A resident of Broadview Heights and a 1995 graduate of South High School in Cleveland, Shuster was also a devoted father to his son, Ethan, and a caregiver to his parents, Louis and Paulette. He was a beloved brother, uncle, and member of a close-knit family.
Following his death, the railroad community rallied around the Shuster family. Fellow BLET members raised more than $50,000 to help with funeral expenses and support Ethan.
The location of the memorial is particularly meaningful. The interchange of I-480 and West 150th Street provides access to the railroad facilities where many of Shuster's fellow BLET members continue to work. The sign will therefore stand in a place directly connected to the profession and community he served.
Reps. Brennan and Mathews thanked the BLET Ohio State Legislative Board, especially Chairman John Esterly, and its members for advocating for the memorial designation and the bipartisan members of the Ohio General Assembly who supported the legislation.
“Every time a veteran, a railroad worker, or a family traveling through Cleveland sees this sign, I hope they take a moment to remember SPC Louis P. Shuster,” added Rep. Brennan. “His service to our country did not end when he left the Army. He continued to serve his fellow veterans, his coworkers, his family, and his community every day of his life. Rep. Mathews and I hope this sign will serve as a lasting tribute to a soldier, a veteran, a laborer, a father, and a good man who gave so much to others.”