COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 53

(By Delegates Barker, Eldridge, R. Phillips, Tomblin,

     Barill and Marcum)

Requesting the bridge at the intersection of County Route 18, known as North Fork Road, and County Route 18/2, known as Ellis Fork Road, in Boone County, West Virginia, (latitude, longitude: 38.00947, -81.95537) be named the “Julian, Earl and Edward Hill Brothers Memorial Bridge”.

    Whereas, Julian, Earl and Edward Hill were brothers, three of ten children born to Edward and Annie Hill who farmed for a living in Boone County; and

    Whereas, Julian Hill was born on August 4, 1920 and worked at many different jobs until being drafted into the United States Army; and

    Whereas, Before joining the Army Julian Hill married Audrey Chapman and they had two children. When he was sent to Fort Worth, Texas for basic training, Audrey rode the train from Charleston to Texas taking along their two small children so they could be together prior to his departure overseas during World War II; and

    Whereas, After basic training, Julian Hill was sent to Germany where he refueled airplanes and later was sent into combat with General Patton where he refueled tanks and other vehicles. He often spoke of the obstacles placed by Hitler to keep the United States Armed Forces from pushing their way through Germany towards Berlin; and

    Whereas, Julian Hill returned from Germany on the USS Argentina in January 1946 and never talked of the fighting and what he had seen, but he suffered nightmares for many years after his return; and

    Whereas, After being discharged, Julian and Audrey Hill had a third child in 1949, and he became an over-the-road long haul truck driver, sometimes being gone for two full days at a time; and

    Whereas, Julian Hill had a truck accident which forced an early retirement from truck driving. He was placed on disability by his company, and Senator Robert C. Byrd was instrumental in seeing that he also received Social Security disability benefits; and

    Whereas, Julian and Audrey Hill divorced in 1959. Following a brief second marriage which also ended in divorce, he later married Betty Smith, a marriage that lasted for forty years until his death in December 2010 at the age of ninety after a fall in a nursing home; and

    Whereas, Julian Hill loved camping and gospel and country music. He and Betty spent many years camping in West Virginia, Virginia and South Carolina; and

    Whereas, Earl Hill enlisted in the United States Army on January 12, 1943 and was honorably discharged on June 11, 1943; and

    Whereas, Edward Hill was born on the Ellis Fork off the North Fork of Big Creek in Boone County on October 25, 1917; and

    Whereas, Edward Hill completed the eighth grade in 1933, joined the United States Army Air Corp, serving from September 8, 1942 until his honorable discharge on April 26, 1945; and

    Whereas, Following his basic training in Tampa, Florida, Edward Hill attained the rank of Private First Class in the 410th Army Air Force Base Unit and served as a Radio Operator, Area 4600 Underground Placement on Catalina Island, California and a Supply Clerk on St. Nicholas Island, California and received the Good Conduct Medal; and

    Whereas, In addition to being a farmer his entire life, Edward Hill was also a mail carrier for four years from Banco to Danville, and worked for Grocers Wholesale Company, later named The Creasey Company, from 1954 until his retirement in 1981; and

    Whereas, Edward Hill married Oma Lee Barker and they had six children, Gary A. Hill, Larry A. Hill, Judy K. Murphy, Jeanne C. Wagner, Eddy R. Hill and Lisa J. Black; and

    Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate these native sons who served their state and their country so ably during World War II; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name the bridge at the intersection of County Route 18, known as North Fork Road, and County Route 18/2, known as Ellis Fork Road, in Boone County, West Virginia, (latitude, longitude: 38.00947, -81.95537) the “Julian, Earl and Edward Hill Brothers Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of Highways is hereby requested to erect signs at both ends of the bridge containing bold and prominent letters proclaiming the bridge the “Julian, Earl and Edward Hill Brothers Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways and the families of Julian Hill, Earl Hill and Edward Hill.