Robert Weaver, known as the “Ice Cream Man,” was honored Friday afternoon at a Robert Weaver Way Dedication ceremony officially renaming Tate Street Robert Weaver Way.
Weaver was honored by several city and state officials who renamed Tate Street, which runs behind Alabama School for the Deaf, after Weaver for his decades of service to the Talladega community and to AIDB.
Blue Bell Creameries provided free ice cream to attendees to celebrate Weaver, who is lovingly called the “Ice Cream Man.”
The program started with a welcome from City Council President Horace Patterson, and the national anthem sung by Alabama School for the Blind student Malia Thibado and signed by Alabama School for the Deaf students Raven Sutton and Fantasy Poindexter.
After an invocation from Dennis Jones, pastor of First Baptist Church in Talladega, AIDB President Terry Graham thanked Weaver for enriching the lives of Talladega’s deaf and blind community.
“Thank you for doing the best you can, thank you for making a difference in the lives of Alabama’s deaf and blind citizens, and thank you for being such an outstanding citizen of the city of Talladega,” Graham said.
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers talked about the friendship he and Weaver have developed over the years and how much it has meant to him.
“We’re having some tough times in this country today, but one of the reasons I’m convinced we’re going to come out of this darkness is people like Robert Weaver,” Rogers said. “I’m proud that you’re my friend.”
Mayor Larry Barton presented Weaver with a proclamation for his service to the community.
The audience rose to their feet in applause after Patterson said, “Officially we declare today Robert Weaver Way, the street known formerly as Tate Street.”
Weaver signed “I love you” to the students, who returned the gesture.
Weaver then reflected on his many years of service to the community and of his early years at AIDB.
He said many miracles have happened to him over the years.
“You can make dreams come true and that’s the reason I’m here today,” Weaver said.
Contact Aziza Jackson at ajackson@dailyhome.com.
