HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 35

(By Delegates Rowe, Caputo, Robinson, White, Brewer, Byrd, Hornbuckle, Fleischauer, Pyles and Lynch)

[Introduced March 2, 2017]

Requesting the Division of Highways to name bridge number 20-77-83.84 (20A615), (38.19560, -81.47926), locally known as WV.TPK/WV 79, carrying interstate 77/64 over Route 79/3 and Cabin Creek in Kanawha County, the “Arnold Miller Memorial Bridge.”

Whereas, Arnold Miller was born April 25, 1923, in the mining community of Cherokee in Cabin Creek, Kanawha County, West Virginia to Lula Burgess Hoy and George Miller; and

Whereas, Arnold Miller left school after completing the ninth grade and began his career in the labor sector in the timber industry, before moving to the mining industry at the age of sixteen, loading coal carts in the same mine in which his grandfather worked. He became involved with the local United Mine Workers union during this time as well; and

Whereas, Arnold Miller enlisted in the U. S. Army in 1940, where he served valiantly as a Private First Class for his country as a machine gunner and took part in the Normandy invasion of Europe, where he was severely wounded. Arnold Miller was awarded the Bronze Star, the Silver Star, and the Purple Heart during his service to his country and the State of West Virginia; and

Whereas, Arnold Miller returned from World War II to marry Virginia Brown in 1948, having three children, instilling in them values such as honesty and hard work, which he showed them by leading through example throughout his life. Arnold Miller was passionate about caring for others less fortunate than himself and was an avid outdoorsman. He worked in the mines for twenty-four years, until succumbing to black-lung disease; and

Whereas, After attending rallies at which Doctors I. E. Buff, Donald Rasmussen and Hawey Wells made miners aware of coal miners pneumoconiosis, Arnold Miller helped organize other miners to create the West Virginia Black Lung Association in 1968, of which he was also president; and

Whereas, Arnold Miller led the charge for the first “black-lung bill” in the United States, giving miners safer conditions in which to work, by being one of the lead advocates for the passage of House Bill 1040 in the 1969 session of the West Virginia Legislature; he and thousands of other West Virginia miners launched a twenty-three day wildcat strike, and he also was a leader in a march on the State Capitol demanding enactment of this legislation and largely as a result of such efforts, the legislation was enacted; and

Whereas, Arnold Miller continued to carry the fight to the federal level for the creation of the Federal Black Lung Benefits Act of 1973; and

Whereas, His presidency of the West Virginia Black Lung Association paved the way for Arnold Miller to seek the presidency of the United Mine Workers of America union in 1972, becoming the first native West Virginian to lead the organization; and

Whereas, The UMWA instituted several reforms during Arnold Miller’s presidency, protecting miner’s rights, increasing democratic practices within local unions, and expanding the practice of collective bargaining; and

Whereas, Arnold Miller resigned the presidency of the UMWA in 1979 due to failing health, and he passed away on July 12, 1985; and

Whereas, Many of the reforms Arnold Miller brought to the United Mine Workers of America are still in practice today, highlighting Arnold Miller’s profound impact on the union and the mining industry; and

Whereas, Arnold Miller’s contribution to the State of West Virginia, the United Mine Workers of America, and to miners across the country should be commemorated in an enduring memorial to preserve his legacy; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 20-77-83.84 (20A615), (38.19560, -81.47926), locally known as WV.TPK/WV 79 carrying Interstate 77/64 over Route 79/3 and Cabin Creek in Kanawha County, the “Arnold Miller 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 the “Arnold Miller Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

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