Committee Substitute

for

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 24

By Senators Stollings and Phillips

[Originating in the Committee on Rules; reported March 10, 2022]

Requesting the Division of Highways name a portion of Route 85, beginning at the southern end of Dunlap Brothers Road at Uneeda and ending one-mile south near Quinland in Boone County, as the “U.S. Marine Corps CPL Roger Lee Boothe Memorial Road”.

Whereas, Roger Lee Boothe was born in Logan County on August 20, 1947, and moved to Uneeda in Boone County at the age of three and was raised there; and

Whereas, CPL Roger Lee Boothe graduated from Scott High School and, at age 18, he entered the Marine Corps; and

Whereas, While at Quang Tri, Vietnam, with only eight days left until his deployment home, the bunker to which CPL Roger Lee Boothe was assigned was shelled, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down; and

Whereas, When CPL Roger Lee Boothe returned home, he enrolled at the West Virginia Rehab Center, studied accounting, and played on their wheelchair basketball team; and

Whereas, CPL Roger Lee Boothe went on to earn a chemistry degree from West Virginia State University and then successfully completed the pharmacy program at West Virginia University; and

Whereas, CPL Roger Lee Boothe returned to Uneeda to help his mother who was ill. He opened a pharmacy there in 1976 to help his community; and

Whereas, CPL Roger Lee Boothe was always a guiding light for his community who never turned down the opportunity to help someone in need, whether it was loaning money for food, medicine, or just being there to listen when someone was going through a difficult time; and

Whereas, CPL Roger Lee Boothe always had an interest in sports. He played basketball and baseball as a left-handed pitcher in high school; and

Whereas, Later, CPL Roger Lee Boothe played wheelchair basketball, participated in the Charleston Distance Run, and supported athletic teams in Madison County and the surrounding areas; and

Whereas, CPL Roger Lee Boothe also became interested in flying, learned to fly ultralight planes, and even built his own airplane and customized it with hand controls; and

Whereas, CPL Roger Lee Boothe has selflessly helped several students get their college degrees and much more; and

Whereas, CPL Roger Lee Boothe was a very humble, private person. He did not speak of his many outreach and assistance efforts on his own, and this information was gathered by family and friends who love and appreciate him; and

Whereas, Sadly, on Sunday, August 11, 2019, CPL Roger Lee Boothe passed away. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Mary (Green) Boothe; his brother, Ralph; his sister, RoseMary (Boothe) McCray; and nephew, Bill Church; and

Whereas, CPL Roger Lee Boothe is survived by his companion and love of his life of 25 years, Nada Baldwin; his brother, Dale Boothe; sister, Rita Boothe Church; nieces, Wendy Miller, London Gibson, and Dee-Dee Seagraves; nephews, Tom, Jim, and Joe Boothe; a special friend, Brock Loftis; a special granddaughter, Brittany Baldwin; and a 12-year-old granddaughter, Azriella Baldwin; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate CPL Roger Lee Boothe 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 a portion Route 85, beginning at the southern end of Dunlap Brothers Road at Uneeda and ending one-mile south near Quinland in Boone County, the “U.S. Marine Corps CPL Roger Lee Boothe Memorial Road”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs at both ends identifying the portion of road as the “U.S. Marine Corps CPL Roger Lee Boothe Memorial Road”; and, be it

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