COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

FOR

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 19

By Delegates Waxman, Trecost, Hamrick and Miley

Originating in the Committee on Roads and Transportation

Requesting the Division of Highways to name the bridge on U. S. Route 19 at mile marker 15.55 over the West Fork River in Clarksburg, Harrison County, the "H. Laban White Memorial Bridge."

Whereas, H. Laban White, father, husband, lawyer, veteran, statesman and distinguished West Virginian, was born on May 1, 1916, in Spencer, West Virginia, the son of H. Laban White, Sr. and Nan Leigh (Cox) White.  He passed away on January 31, 2015, at his home in Clarksburg; and

Whereas, H. Laban White  married the love of his life, Gwendolyn Beall on December 23, 1943, and were the parents of three daughters, Patricia Linda (White) Stumpo (deceased), Diane (White) Slaughter and son-in-law, Gary Slaughter and Carol White and also  were grandparents of Melissa and David McCullough, Joshua Laban and Jaime Gutshall, Liza Gabrielle and Nicholas Vick, Traci Michelle and Joe Terango, Jennifer Careen and Scott Duarte, and Tina Nicole Stumpo (deceased), and also had thirteen great-grandchildren; and

Whereas, H. Laban White entered the United States Army in 1942 as a private and retired from the U.S. Army Reserve as Lieutenant Colonel after 35 years in active and reserve service; and

Whereas, H. Laban White was a very prominent and active member of his community for 70 years. He practiced law from 1942 to 2004, served as President of the Harrison County Bar Association, City Attorney of Clarksburg, and was a member of the Clarksburg Sanitary Board; and

Whereas, H. Laban White had a distinguished career in the West Virginia House of Delegates, having served as a member for twelve years, including serving as chairman of the Judiciary Committee from 1960-1964 and as Speaker from 1964-1968; and

Whereas, H. Laban White has received many honors, including: Glenville State College's Alumnus of the Year and the Distinguished Service Award, the highest award of the Lions International, a Fellow of the Melvin Jones Foundation, the Distinguished Legislative Commendation, the West Virginia Vocational Rehabilitation Division's Distinguished Service Award, and the Boy Scouts of America's Distinguished Silver Beaver; and

Whereas, Mr. White was honored by the Harrison County Commission for significant contributions made to prove that a life well lived can make a great difference by proclaiming July 8, 2004, as H. Laban White Day.  He was also honored on June 1, 1996, by the Clarksburg Lions Club “Roast” to commend him for his leadership and participation in the formation of the Scholarship Foundation; and

Whereas, H. Laban White was also a member of the Harrison County, West Virginia and American Bar Associations, the Allohak Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the Clarksburg Elks and Moose Clubs, the Board of Trustees of Alderson-Broaddus College, the American Legion, the Reserve Officers Association, was a member and State Commander and National Director of AMVETS, a member and past president of the Clarksburg Lions Club; a member and past president of the Clarksburg-Harrison Cultural Foundation, and was a member of the National Conference of State Legislative Leaders  where he served as National Vice President; and

Whereas, H. Laban White  also provided counsel and guidance to the Energy Corporation of America since 1973, first as legal adviser and subsequently as a member of the Board of Directors and finally as a Director Emeritus; and

Whereas, H. Laban White was also a member of the Clarksburg Baptist Church, where he served in many capacities, including being a teacher for 46 years, a member of the Choir and of the board and as the church attorney for many years; and

Whereas, Naming the bridge on U. S. Route 19 at mile marker 15.55 over the West Fork River in Clarksburg, Harrison County, the "H. Laban White Memorial Bridge” is an appropriate recognition of the contributions to his country, state, community and Harrison County; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name the bridge on U. S. Route 19 at mile marker 15.55 over the West Fork River in Clarksburg, Harrison County, the "H. Laban White Memorial Bridge"; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge as the "H. Laban White Memorial Bridge"; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and all surviving members of his family.