COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

FOR

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 76

By Delegate Boggs

(Originating in the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure
March 4, 2019)

Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge Number :04-1-4.02 (04A001), locally known as Orlando Bridge, carrying County Route 1 over Oil Creek in Braxton County, the “Reverend Lonnie Ramsey Memorial Bridge”.

Whereas, the Reverend Lonnie Ramsey was born in Widen, West Virginia, on January 28, 1944, a son of the late Delbert “Deb” Ramsey and Mame Bragg Ramsey; and

Whereas, Lonnie Ramsey attended Burnsville High School and after graduation, he entered the U. S. Army where he served two years during the Vietnam Era; and

Whereas, Lonnie Ramsey married his high school sweetheart, Judy Mealey, on May 12, 1968; they lived 48 beautiful years together and raised two sons: Jeffrey and Jonathan Ramsey; and

Whereas, Reverend Lonnie Ramsey was always ready for a ballgame, some time spent fishing, or a great Papaw story; and

 Lonnie was an electrician by trade and a pastor by heart; he was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electricians for 35 years and pastored three churches in his and Judy’s 40 years of ministry; and

Whereas, Reverend Lonnie Ramsey is the former pastor of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church at Right Hand Fork of Freeman’s Creek, the Poplar Ridge Community Church outside of Sutton, and was the pastor of the Orlando Baptist Church over 25 years until his passing; he never knew a stranger and always finished his visit with “God Bless You”; and

Whereas, Reverend Lonnie Ramsey, 73, of the Fall Run Community of Ireland, West Virginia, died Sunday, February 26, 2017, after a year-long struggle with cancer; and

Whereas, Reverend Lonnie Ramsey was instrumental in getting the road in Orlando repaired and a new bridge constructed, and it is fitting that he be remembered for his years of community service by having the new bridge in Orlando, named after him and that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate the Reverend Lonnie Ramsey’s 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 bridge number :04-1-4.02 (04A001), locally known as Orlando Bridge, carrying County Route 1 over Oil Creek in Braxton County, the “ Reverend Lonnie Ramsey 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 as the “Reverend Lonnie Ramsey Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

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