Committee Substitute
House Concurrent Resolution 22 History
OTHER VERSIONS -
Introduced Version
|
| Email
Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 22
(By Delegates R. Phillips and Tomblin)
Requesting the Division of Highways to name a section of County
Route 16, known as the Buffalo Creek Road, running through the
unincorporated community of Lorado, Logan County, West
Virginia, from the Lorado highway marker on the eastern edge
of the community to the Lorado highway marker on the western
edge of the community, the "Kerry Albright Road."
Whereas, On February 26, 1972, a coal slurry impoundment dam
owned by the Pittston Coal Company burst during heavy rains and
collapsed two other impoundment dams, sending 132 million gallons
of black waste water and sludge rushing in a 20 feet wave through
the narrow Buffalo Creek valley; and
Whereas, In a matter of minutes, 125 people were dead, 1100
injured, and over 4000 left homeless; 502 houses and 44 mobile
homes were destroyed, and 943 houses and mobile homes damaged; 1000
cars and trucks were destroyed and total property damage was
estimated at $50 million; and
Whereas, In the midst of this devastation, a nine month old
baby lay face down in the black muck, with only a tiny leg protruding above the surface; and
Whereas, Some thirty minutes before, the baby's mother, Sylvia
Albright, and older brother, Steven Albright, had been desperately
running from the wall of waste water hurtling towards them when
Sylvia tried to throw her baby to higher ground just as the flood
waters overtook them; and
Whereas, Sadly, Sylvia Albright and Steven Albright perished in
the flood that day, and the baby was last seen floating in the
swirling waters; and
Whereas, As residents later combed the valley for survivors,
the baby's seemingly lifeless body was found buried in the muck
with severe bruises and injuries that rendered him nearly
unrecognizable; and
Whereas, The baby gasped for air when the thick mud was cleared
from his mouth, and his rescuers realized that the baby had
miraculously survived the flood and his subsequent submersion in
the muck for at least twenty to thirty minutes; and
Whereas, As the baby clung to life, he was taken to the
hospital where doctors treated his injuries, but held out little
hope for his survival; and
Whereas, With the loving care of his father, Robert Albright,
who stayed at his side day and night, the baby defied all odds and
miraculously recovered; and
Whereas, That baby, Kerry Lee Albright, henceforth became known as the "Miracle Baby of the Buffalo Creek Flood"; and
Whereas, Robert Albright was working in an area coal mine when
the flood took the life of his wife and elder son and destroyed his
home, but he never returned after that fateful day; and
Whereas, Kerry's survival gave Robert a purpose in life and
helped him to cope with the devastating losses he had suffered, and
Robert devoted himself to nurturing the fragile young life who had
been spared from the flood; and
Whereas, Robert Albright had black lung from twenty-five years
underground in the mines, and he now took a disability retirement
to assume the full-time role of single father and caregiver to his
baby son - learning to cook, clean and sew, to bathe little Kerry
and to rock him to sleep; and
Whereas, Robert and Kerry lived several years in a trailer
provided by the federal government to flood victims until Robert
was able to rebuild on the site of their former home; and
Whereas, As Kerry grew up, Robert was determined to provide a
better life for his son and encouraged him to follow his dreams,
often telling Kerry "you can do whatever you want to do and be
whatever you want to be"; and
Whereas, When Kerry showed an interest and talent for
performing, Robert arranged for private dance and voice lessons for
him; and
Whereas, When Kerry graduated from high school, he attended Marshall University as a theater major, and then began a twenty
year career in musical theater that has taken him around the world
performing as a singer and dancer; and
Whereas, In the years after he moved away, Kerry often returned
home to visit his father who had nurtured him and encouraged him to
pursue his dreams; and
Whereas, When Robert Albright died in 2000 of lung cancer and
black lung, Kerry's final words to his devoted father were, "I love
you"; and
Whereas, Kerry currently resides in Brooklyn, New York, where
he appreciates his life, and lives with a positive and upbeat
presence about him that reflects his many years performing in
musical theater; and
Whereas, The January 2013 edition of Reader's Digest featured
an article about Kerry's miraculous story of survival, and now
millions of readers are learning about the "Miracle Baby of the
Buffalo Creek Flood" for the first time; and
Whereas, It is only fitting that a section of Buffalo Creek
Road be named for Kerry Albright to celebrate the miracle of life
that he represents, and that by honoring Kerry, we also honor his
father, Robert Albright, who lovingly nurtured his "miracle baby"
into the adult that Kerry has become; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Division of Highways is requested to name a section of County Route 16, known as the Buffalo Creek Road, running
through the unincorporated community of Lorado, Logan County, West
Virginia, from the Lorado highway marker on the eastern edge of the
community to the Lorado highway marker on the western edge of the
community, the "Kerry Albright Road"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is requested
to have made, and be placed, signs identifying the highway as the
"Kerry Albright Road"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That Division of Highways is requested to
include on the signs an additional inscription identifying Kerry
Albright as the "Miracle Baby of the Buffalo Creek Flood"; and, be
it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates is
requested to forward a certified copy of this resolution to the
Secretary of Transportation and to Kerry Albright.