COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

FOR

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 13

By Delegates Hott, Howell, Rowan, Mandt, D. Kelly, Toney, J. Jeffries, Fast, Phillips, Sypolt and D. Jeffries

(Originating in the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure
February 12, 2020)

Requesting the Division of Highways name a portion of WV Route 42 in Mineral County from its intersection with WV Route 46 in Elk Garden to the West Virginia/ Maryland border, the “Watts Brothers Veterans Memorial Road”.

 Whereas, The military often likens itself to a family, a Mineral County family took the analogy and put it into practice. Elk Garden’s Francis Watts and her husband Glenn Watts Sr., a coal miner, sent five of their six boys, Glenn Jr., Thomas, Gilbert, Daniel, and Gary into three branches of the nation’s military during three and a half decades of the Cold War. The five’s military service included a span from late 1966 to late 1968 when each of the brothers was on active duty during the Vietnam War and the youngest, Gary, was pulling a 21-month tour of combat duty in Vietnam; and

Whereas, According to their mother, “All the boys had a patriotic streak, and they weren't too keen on working in the coal mines after seeing what their father had to do”; and

Whereas, Retired Air Force Master Sergeant Glenn L Watts, Jr. served 24 years of active duty from 1954 to 1978 with an additional six years in the reserves; and, in addition to his stateside service, his Air Force career took him to Resolution Island in the Northwest Territories, Iceland, and Germany; and

Whereas, Retired Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Thomas D. Watts served 23 years active duty from 1956 to 1979 with an additional seven years in the reserves; his outgoing personality helped him hold down a spot as a top naval recruiter for 10 years; and his shipboard assignments included the tour on the USS Forrestal and several years of submarine service aboard the USS Wahoo, the USS George C Marshall (a nuclear powered sub), and the USS Simon Bolivar; and

Whereas, Retired Navy chief Petty Officer Gilbert T. Watts served 20 years active duty from 1960 to 1980 with an additional 10 years in the reserves; he spent three years as a Drill Commander and served seagoing tour aboard the USS Forrestal, USS Neosho, USS Denebola, USS Macdonough, and USS Shenandoah; and

Whereas, Former Army Sergeant Daniel R. Watts served six years of active duty from 1962 to 1968 and two years as a reservist; his service included tours of duty in South Korea and Germany; and 

Whereas, Former Army Sergeant Gary M. Watts served two and a half years of active duty from 1966 to 1969 with 21 months of combat duty in Vietnam and an additional six and a half years as a reservist; and 

Whereas, According to their mother, “After getting out and seeing some of the world all the boys realized that America was the best country on earth and they would tell me so. They felt very lucky to have been born here and to be able to serve their country”; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate the Watts brothers and their contributions to our state and country; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name a portion of WV Route 42 in Mineral County from its intersection with WV Route 46 in Elk Garden to the West Virginia/Maryland border, the “Watts Brothers Veterans Memorial Road”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs at both ends identifying the portion of road as the “Watts Brothers Veterans Memorial Road”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.