Bay St. Louis officials have endorsed a proposal to name the U.S. Highway 90 bridge in Hancock County for Leo W. Seal Jr., the late banker and philanthropist.

Seal, who led Hancock Bank as it grew from a small local institution into a leading regional organization and a lifelong Bay St. Louis resident, died in November of a blood disorder. He was 84.

The city council this week adopted a resolution to be presented to the Legislature.

The Bay of St. Louis Bridge was destroyed during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. It reopened in 2007.

A bill designating the bridge has passed the House and is pending in the Senate.