Should I Include Honorifics and Post-Nominals
With A Person's Name When Naming a Building? 
        Our agency is in the process of naming a building after a deceased Executive Director. We are also having signage placed on the the building. Dr. Delaney earned a Doctorate of Public Administration. Our staff wishes to have the signage on the building as:
                Peter W. Delaney, DPA Head Start Center
        We believe that it should be:
                Dr. Peter W. Delaney Head Start Center
        -- Terry Kelly

Dear T.K.:
        Buildings are usually named for people without honorifics ... Dr., Judge, Senator, Mayor ..... or without post nominals ... MD, PhD, MBA.
        E.g., at the Metropolitan Museum of Art galleries and wings are named:
                The Iris B. and Gerald Canter Exhibition Hall
                The Robert Lehman Wing
                Grace Rainy Rogers Auditorium
        Or at UCLA
                Ackerman Union
                Llewellyn M.K. Boelter Hall
                Almira Hershey Hall
        Based on the examples at leading institutions, the best style would be:
                Peter W. Delaney Head Start Center
        -- Robert Hickey

Should I Include a Courtesy Title
When Naming a Road After a Person?
       I have a question about using “the Honorable”… I just saw a news item in our legislative service this AM and noticed that a former Oklahoma official (now deceased) will have her name on a highway sign as shown below:
      Shelton's authored legislative language that renames a section of Interstate 35 in Atkins' honor. Under the new law, the portion of Interstate 35 in Oklahoma City running north from Northeast 23rd Street to the junction of Interstate 35 and Interstate 44 will now be designated as the "Honorable Hannah Diggs Atkins, Secretary of State, Memorial Highway."
      I think it should say The Honorable Hannah Diggs Atkins, Secretary of State of Oklahoma, Memorial Highway.
      What do you advise?  I have placed a call to the legislator’s office.
            -- CM

Dear CM:
       You are right ... it is always The Honorable.
       However ..."The Honorable" is used in address to living people .... not with the name of a deceased person. Hence you don't see:
              The Honorable George Washington Bridge
              The Honorable Abraham Lincoln Memorial
       It is simply:
              The George Washington Bridge
              The Abraham Lincoln Memorial
       So call them up and make sure they know it should be:
              Hanna Diggs Atkins Memorial Highway
              -- Robert Hickey

The Man's or Woman's Name First
When Naming a Building For a Couple?
       I am creating a rustic wooden sign for my daughter & her husband for their lake house.  I was planning on on putting Todd & Bethany's Lake House on the sign, but my friend insists that there is a rule that Bethany should be first.  Is there a rule on this?
              -- DC

       We are dedicating a building to my mother and father.  Father is deceased.  I know that you write that on letters the woman's name comes first.  Is that rule still applicable in this situation?
        Is this the correct wording?: Dedicated to Jane and John Doe
              -- Sue

Dear DC & Sue,
      There is a rule in forms of address ... that when you write a couple's name on letters, invitations, etc. ... and both parties use the same family name as their joint family name ... you keep "his" name together as a unit:
            Bethany and Todd Wilson
      Rather than:
            Todd and Bethany Wilson
      Other books suggest that the woman's name is always first ... due a "ladies first" rule.
      However I observe on buildings & galleries the name order is often done the other way around – so I cannot say there is a single correct form:
            The Frederick Phineas and Sandra Priest Rose Building 
            The Robert and Renée Belfer Court for Early Greek Art
            Mary and Michael Jaharis Gallery
            Judy and Michael H. Steinhardt Gallery
 Usually when there are honors or donations involved I am certain there is deference to the personal preference of the person being honored or donating the money.
           -- Robert Hickey

Not Finding Your Question Answered?
Below are other topics covered in my blog and at right is a list of officials, Between the two I probably have what you are looking for.
     After hunting around a bit, if you don't see your question answered send me an e-mail. I am pretty fast at sending a reply: usually the next day (unless I am traveling.)
      If I think your question is of interest to others, I will post the question & answer – with your name and any personal specifics changed.
      -- Robert Hickey

USE OF NAMES & HONORIFICS   
Mr., Miss, Jr., III, & Names        
Married Women       
Deceased Persons         
People with Two Titles
Post-Nominal Abbreviations and Initials           
Joint Forms of Address    (How to address a couple?)   

USE OF SPECIFIC OFFICIAL TITLES        
Former Officials            
Professionals and Academics        

United States Federal Officials, Currently In Office             
United States State Officials, Currently In Office              
United States Municipal Officials, Currently In Office             
       All About The Honorable with U.S. Officials         
       Former United States Officials of all types             
United States Armed Services, Active Duty             
       Addressing Retired Personnel      
       Use of Rank by Retired Personnel      
       Use of Rank by Veterans      

Tribal Officials             
Clergy and Religious Officials           
Canadian Officials         
Australian Officials          
British Officials, Royalty, and Nobility        
Diplomats and International Representatives            
Foreign National Officials and Nobility        

SPECIFIC SITUATIONS
Business Cards       
Etiquette             
Flags and Anthem Protocol             
Introductions            
Invitations: Writing & Addressing         
Invitations: Just Armed Service Personnel        
Name Tags            
Names on Programs, Signs, & Lists            
Naming a Building or Road            
Place Cards            
Plaques, Awards, Diplomas, Certificates    
Precedence: Ordering Officials           
Thank You Notes             

     Back to Main Page of the Robert Hickey's BLOG 

Robert Hickey is the author of Honor & Respect:
The Official Guide to Names, Titles, and Forms of Address
Published by The Protocol School of Washington®
Foreword by Pamela Eyring

Copyright © 2013 Robert Hickey.     All Rights Reserved.
Book Photo: Marc Goodman.