Downtown in Fresno in Fresno County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Billy Vukovich Memorial

Photographed by Lester J Letson, November 21, 2010

1. Billy Vukovich Memorial Marker

Inscription. This Monument is dedicated May 30, 1956, by the citizens of Fresno to the memory of Fresno's own Billy Vukovich, who met his death while leading the Indianapolis 500 Mile race May 30, 1955.

Billy Vukovich, who lived all his life in Fresno, won almost every major automobile racing championship in the United States. Among his racing accomplishments are the following:

1954 Indianapolis 500 winner
1953 Indianapolis 500 winner
1950 National Midget Race Champion
1947 Pacific Coast Midget Champion
1946 Pacific Coast Midget Champion

The citizens of Fresno are proud of Billy Vukovich. We are proud of his accomplishments, his courage, his sportsmanship and his will to win. It is particularly fitting tht we, the citizens of Fresno, erect and didicate this memorial in honor of him, who was a true champion.

Erected 1956 by Fresno City Commission and Vukovich Memorial Committee.

Topics. This historical marker and memorial is listed in these topic lists: Roads & Vehicles • Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is May 30, 1955.

Location. 36° 43.967′ N, 119° 47′ W. Marker is in Fresno, California, in Fresno County. It is in Downtown. It is on M Street 0.2 miles west of Ventura Avenue, on the left when traveling

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west. Located just west of the Ernest Valdez Hall, it is next to the monument for Young Corbett, and near one of the entrances to Selland Arena. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 704 M Street, Fresno CA 93721, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker and memorial is in California’s San Joaquin Valley,

specifically in the Central Valley,

and in the Sierra Nevada.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Young Corbett III (here, next to this marker); David of Sassoon (approx. 0.3 miles away); Honoring the Ex-Braceros and Their Contributions (approx. 0.3 miles away); Purple Heart Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); William Saroyan (approx. 0.4 miles away); Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (approx. 0.4 miles away); Fresno (approx. 0.4 miles away); Fresno County Courthouse (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fresno.

Billy Vukovich Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mandy Kirby, January 20, 2019

2. Billy Vukovich Memorial

Photographed by Lester J Letson, November 21, 2010

3. Billy Vukovich Memorial Marker

To the left is the entrance to Selland Arena, to the right you can see the monument to Young Corbett III, the boxer.

Billy Vukovich image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Lester J Letson, November 21, 2010

4. Billy Vukovich

Close up of top half of the marker

Rear of Billy Vukovich Memorial Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Lester J Letson, November 21, 2010

5. Rear of Billy Vukovich Memorial Marker

Rear of the marker naming the 1956 members of the Fresno City Commission and the Vukovich Memorial Committee.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 17, 2011, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California. This page has been viewed 1,781 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 17, 2011, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California. 2. submitted on January 20, 2019, by Mandy Kirby of Clovis, California. 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 17, 2011, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.