Trooper Marvin Archer Memorial Road

A dedication ceremony in Paxton Thursday honors the life and dedicated service of a former Illinois state trooper. The Paxton Fire House hosted the event for State Trooper Marvin Archer, killed in the line of duty in 1946. Legislative leaders, IDOT, and ISP officials joined family and friends of the honoree.

The Trooper Marvin Archer Memorial Road is being designates a section of Illinois Route 9 in the trooper’s name. Resolution 31, approved by the General Assembly, is sponsored by State Senator Jason Barickman and State Representative Tom Bennett.

Trooper Archer was shot and killed in 1946

when gunfire erupted when a stolen car was stopped in Paxton. One of two suspects in the car shot and killed Archer while the other suspect fled. The second suspect was later killed by police in a Gifford after a chase.

Trooper Archer started his career as a state patrolman in 1940, before being called to serve a three year tour in the South Pacific during World War II. Archer returned to the state police when after his military service.

Route 9 between South Washington Street and High Street in Paxton is named the Trooper Marvin C. Archer Memorial Road.

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