Committee Substitute

for

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 11

(By Senators Rucker and Unger)

[Originating in the Committee on Government Organization; Reported February 9, 2018]

Requesting Congress name the West Virginia National Guard 167th Maintenance Operations Center the “Evans Center for Excellence in Aircraft Maintenance”.

Whereas, SMSgt. Kenneth “Catbird” W. Evans is a native West Virginian who was born and raised in Corton, West Virginia. Upon his high school graduation in 1955, SMSgt. Evans attended and graduated aircraft maintenance technical training at Sheppard AFB, TX. SMSgt. Evans served in the West Virginia Air National Guard at Charleston Regional Airfield, Charleston, West Virginia, until 1958, when he entered full-time service with the National Guard in Martinsburg; and

Whereas, SMSgt. Evans enlisted in the West Virginia Air National Guard in 1954 at the age of 17. He completed basic military training at Samson AFB, NY, the summer before completing his senior year of high school in Clendenin, WV; and

Whereas, On June 4, 1958, SMSgt. Evans was credited with acts of heroism when he rushed into a burning cargo plane that crashed at the airfield in Martinsburg and pulled the unconscious pilot, who was trapped in the nose section, and two other souls to safety. On October 7, 1958, SMSgt. Evans was awarded the Soldier’s Medal for his heroic actions; and

Whereas, During SMSgt. Evans’ 39 years of service, he flew numerous combat missions in Vietnam, logged over 10,000 flying hours as a flight engineer in multiple aircraft, led the aircraft maintenance team that resulted in two VOLANT RODEO victories (1974-1985), and was considered a subject matter expert both in aircraft maintenance and as a flight engineer. When the strut system on the C-130 began to fail, SMSgt. Evans single­handedly identified an engineering flaw and served as the subject-matter expert leading Lockheed Martin’s efforts in the redesign of the aircraft’s strut system. This accomplishment sustained the C-130’s mission readiness for the Department of Defense; and

Whereas, The West Virginia Air National Guard, specifically the 167th Airlift Wing, has become a world-class force multiplier because of the superior leadership, mentorship, dedication, and commitment of SMSgt. Evans. SMSgt. Evans’ efforts and accomplishments during his 39 years of service well exceed those of his peers and make him a significant role model for other Mountaineer Airman to follow; and

Whereas, SMSgt. Kenneth “Catbird” W. Evans will forever be a Mountaineer Airman and has earned recognition for his lifelong service and commitment to the 167^th Airlift Wing, the citizens of West Virginia, and this nation; and

Whereas, It is fitting that the West Virginia National Guard 167th Maintenance Operations Center be named the “Evans Center for Excellence in Aircraft Maintenance” as an everlasting tribute to SMSgt. Kenneth “Catbird” W. Evans for his dedicated public service to his state and nation; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Legislature hereby requests Congress name the West Virginia National Guard 167th Maintenance Operations Center the “Evans Center for Excellence in Aircraft Maintenance”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Legislature hereby requests the Congressional delegation of West Virginia advance and support efforts to name the West Virginia National Guard 167th Maintenance Operations Center the “Evans Center for Excellence in Aircraft Maintenance”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Senate extends its most sincere gratitude and apperception to SMSgt. Kenneth “Catbird” W. Evans for his dedicated public service; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to SMSgt. Kenneth “Catbird” W. Evans, the West Virginia National Guard, and to Senator Manchin, Senator Capito, Representative McKinley, Representative Mooney, and Representative Jenkins.