SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 19

(By Senators Stollings and Phillips)

[Introduced January 25, 2022]

Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 30-003/05-014.73 (30A291), (37.89343,-82.23993), locally known as the Kirk Beam Span Bridge, carrying County Route 3/5 over West Fork Twelvepole Creek in Mingo County, the “U.S. Army PVT Thomas D. Beckett, Sr. Memorial Bridge”.

Whereas, PVT Thomas D. Beckett, Sr. was born October 14, 1909, at Kirk, Mingo County, West Virginia, to John J. Beckett and Polly Bailey. He lost both of his parents at a young age and began working in the coal mines of southern West Virginia at the age of fourteen; and

Whereas, On June 18, 1935, Thomas D. Beckett, Sr. married Brookie Dillon in Logan County, West Virginia. They settled in Peach Creek, Logan County. Thomas D. Beckett, Sr. and his wife were the parents of eleven children.

Whereas, Around 1939, Thomas D. Beckett, Sr. and his wife moved to Kirk, Mingo County, West Virginia where they would raise their family. Their home was located at Mudlick Branch. He continued working in the coal mines for several years. In 1940, he was employed by West Virginia Coal & Coke Corporation located in Omar, West Virginia. As a coal miner, he was injured several times; and

Whereas, PVT Thomas D. Beckett, Sr. served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He served in Company D, 27th Medical Training Battalion at Camp Grant, Illinois and received an honorable discharge on July 18, 1944.  After returning home from the Army, PVT Thomas D. Beckett, Sr. was appointed Postmaster of Kirk, West Virginia on May 15, 1946. He served in this capacity until 1956. He was the last to serve in this position as the Kirk post office was discontinued January 27, 1956, effective February 24, 1956. In Kirk, PVT Thomas D. Beckett, Sr. also ran a grocery store called Beckett Grocery, which began on the front porch of his home. Eventually, he built a small building which housed the post office and his store in front of his home at Mudlick Branch. Both PVT Thomas D. Beckett, Sr. and his wife took care of anyone who needed help in the community allowing people to purchase groceries on credit and constantly lending a helping hand to their neighbors. PVT Thomas D. Beckett, Sr. learned to become an auto mechanic at Charley White’s Garage in Dingess, West Virginia. He also served as a deacon at Bailey Baptist Church located in Kirk, West Virginia.

Whereas, Around 1956, PVT Thomas D. Beckett, Sr. moved his family to Dunlow, Wayne County, where he operated another store which ultimately was lost to fire. He then used his auto mechanic training and opened an auto garage and filling station located across the road from his home.

Whereas, On July 30, 1976, PVT Thomas D. Beckett, Sr. was struck by a car in front of his home at Dunlow, West Virginia while walking across Route 152 to his garage. He was taken to Cabell Huntington Hospital where he passed away on August 1, 1976. He was 66 years old. He was the first to be buried on what would become the Beckett Family Cemetery; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate U. S. Army Pvt. Thomas D. Beckett, Sr. and his 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 30-003/05-014.73 (30A291), (37.89343,-82.23993) locally known as the Kirk Beam Span Bridge, carrying County Route 3/5 over West Fork Twelvepole Creek in Mingo County, the “U.S. Army PVT Thomas D. Beckett, Sr. Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge as the “U.S. Army PVT Thomas D. Beckett, Sr. Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.