HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 14

(By Delegate Howell)  

[Introduced January 13, 2022]

Requesting the Division of Highways name a stretch of road on WV 46 in Mineral County, east of Keyser between Lime Stone Rd, CR 14 (WV 46, 39.428520472667465, -78.95480521741753) and Fountain Rd (46/11) as the “U.S. Army Colonel Ronald John “Ron” Chiccehitto Memorial Road”.

Whereas, Col. Ron Chiccehitto was born on January 20, 1941; and

Whereas, Col. Ron Chiccehitto was an Eagle Scout and graduated from Bruce High School in 1959, and after graduation he attended Potomac State College and enlisted in the Army in 1962; and

Whereas, Col. Ron Chiccehitto served as an infantry soldier in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C., where he attained the rank of sergeant; and

Whereas, Col. Ron Chiccehitto was commissioned into the regular Army as a second lieutenant, infantry, upon graduation from West Virginia University in 1968; and

Whereas, In August of 1968, Col. Ron Chiccehitto married Jan, in Cumberland, and they started their lives together; and

Whereas, Col. Ron Chiccehitto enjoyed a long and decorated military career, and his commissioned service assignments include platoon leader, company executive officer, company commander and battalion operations officer 3D Battalion 6th Infantry, Berlin Brigade, Germany; senior advisor to the 73D Vietnamese Ranger Battalion, Republic of Vietnam; B Company and Headquarters commander and personnel officer, 2nd Battalion 504th Airborne Infantry, 82nd Airborne Division; instructor and commander 1st Ranger Company, Florida Ranger Camp; action officer with the Combined Arms Center, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.; executive officer, 4th Battalion (Mechanized) 20th Infantry, and operations officer, Task Force Bayonet, 193rd Infantry Brigade, Fort Clayton, Panama; commander Headquarters and Special Troops Battalion, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg; commander 2nd Battalion 8th Infantry (Mechanized), Fort Carson, Colo.; chief instructor, Tactical Commanders Development Course, Fort Leavenworth; inspector general for the Virginia National Guard, Richmond, Virginia; and

Whereas, Col. Ron Chiccehitto’s military decorations included the Bronze Star with V Device with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal (3rd Award), Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal (3rd Award), Army Achievement Medal and various other service medals; and

Whereas, Col. Ron Chiccehitto was the recipient of the Combat Infantry Badge, the Expert Infantry Badge, the Pathfinder Badge and the Ranger Tab; and

Whereas, Col. Ron Chiccehitto was also a master parachutist with 123 parachute jumps; and

Whereas, Col. Ron Chiccehitto retired from the Army in September of 1994; and

Whereas, Col. Ron Chiccehitto was a lifetime member of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), an Eagle Life Member of the National Rifle Association and a member of the local Moose Lodge, in Keyser; and

Whereas, After his military service, Col. Ron Chiccehitto enjoyed returning to his roots and operated a small hay farm on Knobley Mountain, in Keyser; and

Whereas, Col. Ron Chiccehitto was an avid hunter, poker player and a fixture at daily week-day morning coffee “networking” gatherings; and

Whereas, Every room he walked into was better for it, and he was a quiet, strong and steady presence, but he loved to joke around and keep things light; and

Whereas, Sadly, Colonel Ronald John “Ron” Chiccehitto died Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, of complications due to COVID-19 at Potomac Valley Hospital, in Keyser, at the age of 80; and

Whereas, Col. Ron Chiccehitto is preceded in death by his mother, Caroline DiUbaldo (1998); father, Louie Chiccehitto (2009); and older brother, Lou Chiccehitto (1979); and

Whereas, Col. Ron Chiccehitto is survived by his wife, Janis E. Shobe, of Cumberland; his son, Louis Chiccehitto, of Cincinnati, Ohio; his daughter and son-in-law, Dina and Todd Nelson, of Greenville, South Carolina; six grandchildren, Gordon, Lucy, Ella, Gabe, Kristen and Kayla (who affectionately called him “Unkey-Dad”); his sister, Nancy Eckard, of Bedford, Pennsylvania; his sister and brother-in-law, Carol and Mitch Durst, of Keyser, West Virginia; his sister and brother-in-law, Susan and Don Hindman, of Woodstock, Virginia; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, who all adored him; and

Whereas, Those who knew him particularly appreciated Col. Ron Chiccehitto’s loyalty to God, country and family; and

Whereas, For these reasons, it is fitting and proper that the road be named in honor of Col. Ron Chiccehitto; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways name a stretch of road on WV 46 in Mineral County, east of Keyser between Lime Stone Rd, CR 14 (WV 46, 39.428520472667465, -78.95480521741753) and Fountain Rd (46/11) as the “U.S. Army Colonel Ronald John “Ron” Chiccehitto Memorial Road;” and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of Highways is requested to erect signs at both ends of the stretch of road containing bold and prominent letters proclaiming the bridge as the “U.S. Army Colonel Ronald John “Ron” Chiccehitto Memorial Road”; 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.