EBENSBURG, Nov. 12 – State Rep. Frank Burns on Friday dedicated the bridge that carries U.S. Route 22 over Howells Run in Ebensburg in honor of the late Ebensburg Mayor Michael G. Tsikalas.

Burns introduced the bill that led to the bridge officially being named as the Michael G. Tsikalas Memorial Bridge.

“Everyone knew Tsikalas,” Burns said. “Whether you knew him from the Hi-Way Diner or as mayor or football coach, he was a fixture in town. Naming this bridge in his honor pays tribute to his service – both locally and to our country.”

Members of the Tsikalas family attended the dedication at the Ebensburg VFW Post 4963, as did Phillip Rice, director of veterans’ affairs in Cambria County’s Veterans’ Services Office. Speaking on behalf of the family were E. Michael Tsikalas, son; and Manny and Mike Tsikalas, grandsons.

Born June 3, 1926, Tsikalas served in the U.S. Navy and was on the front lines as he was in one of the first amphibious land cruisers to land on Omaha Beach on D-Day. After the war, he worked at the Hi-Way Diner for 40 years and served as Ebensburg mayor from January 1974 through 1993, where he oversaw the Lake Rowena Revitalization project and the start of the Ebensburg Main Street Program. He also served as Cambria County prothonotary for 20 years and coached football for over 30 years at Holy Name and Ebensburg elementary schools. He passed away on May 18, 2022, at the age of 95.