Introduced Version
House Concurrent Resolution 42 History
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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 42
(By Delegates White, Marcum, Phillips, R., Stowers, Eldridge,
Phillips, L., Moore, Tomblin and Reynolds)
Requesting the Division of Highways to name all sections of the
King Coal Highway, I-73/74, running through Mingo County, West
Virginia, the "Mike Whitt Visionary Leadership Highway".
Whereas, Michael D. "Mike" Whitt was born on June 25, 1952, in
Williamson, Mingo County, West Virginia, to John Whitt Jr. and Mary
Jane Hatfield-Whitt; and
Whereas, Mike Whitt died on Thanksgiving, November 24, 2011, in
his beloved Mingo County, in the loving presence of his family; and
Whereas, Mike graduated from Matewan High School in 1971;
Whereas, Mike entered Marshall University and graduated in 1975
with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and Health;
and
Whereas, Following his graduation in 1975, Mike Whitt continued
at Marshall and received a Master's Degree in Education
Administration; and
Whereas, Mike's early career began in the classroom where he
was a Mingo County educator for five years after which he spent
eleven years working in the mining industry; and
Whereas, In 1987, Mike was elected to the West Virginia House
of Delegates at the age of thirty-five and served until 1989; and
Whereas, In 1990, Mike assumed the Executive Director position
with the Mingo County Redevelopment Authority where he devoted the
next twenty-two years of his life as a tireless advocate for his
beloved Mingo County and its' citizens; and
Whereas, Since the creation of the Mingo County Redevelopment
Authority, Mike and countless team members worked diligently to
create economic development and diversify the economy, paving the
way to a brighter future for all of Mingo County; and
Whereas, During 2001, the Mingo County Redevelopment Authority
began working with coal companies and permitting agencies to form
a plan which would leave post-mined properties more usable after
the minerals were extracted by the coal companies; and
Whereas, The end result of this collaboration was the passage
of Senate Bill 603 which permitted all county governments to adopt
a Land Use Master Plan; and
Whereas, Mingo County's Land Use Master Plan was the first in
the state to be adopted in 2001, allowing Mike and the Mingo County
Redevelopment Authority team to create successful partnerships with
coal companies, land companies, regulatory agencies and state and
federal agencies; and
Whereas, In 2004, Mike and the Mingo County Redevelopment
Authority were awarded the EPA's Region 3 Phoenix Award, a most
prestigious award that recognizes individuals and groups who are
working to solve the critical environmental challenge of transforming abandoned industrial areas into productive new uses;
and
Whereas, Many people have described Mike as a passionate and
visionary leader who accomplished many projects during his tenure,
the most notable of which are development of the Mingo County Wood
Products and Industrial Park; development of the Belo Industrial
Park; development of Mingo County Fish Hatchery; construction of
the I-73/74 King Coal Highway; construction of the new Mingo
Central High School; construction of the Air Transportation Park;
and, lastly, the Coal-To-Liquids Plant; and
Whereas, Mike was one of three founders of the Hatfield McCoy
Trail System, served for a brief time as its Executive Director and
is credited with opening the first three-hundred miles of the
trail; and
Whereas, Mike was the former chairman of the Hatfield-McCoy
Regional Recreation Authority, a member of the West Virginia State
Recreational Trails Advisory Board, a member of the West Virginia
Economic Development Council, past chairman of the Corridor G.
Authority Site Selection Committee and a member of the Tug Valley
Chamber of Commerce; and
Whereas, Mike was a former member of the Employee Advisory
Committee at Southern West Virginia Community & Technical College,
Williamson Campus, a former member of the College's Board of
Advisors, a member of the Williamson Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees and a founding member of the Mingo Central High School
Athletic Foundation; and
Whereas, Mike had a passion for sports and enjoyed coaching as
well as officiating high school basketball, softball and football
which he did for twenty-six years; and
Whereas, In his free time, Mike enjoyed gardening, attending
sporting events and spending time with his beloved family and
friends; and
Whereas, Mike married Regina Edwards in 1974 and together they
had four children: Katrina (Ikie) Whitt-Estepp, Jennifer (Jerad)
Whitt-McComas, MaryAnn (Brad) Preece and Michael John Whitt; and
Whereas, Mike had one grandchild, Brieann Preece; and
Whereas, Mike was of the Christian faith and a member of the
Delbarton Church of God; a man of prayer, always giving the full
credit and glory of all things to the God of his understanding; and
Whereas, On November 24, 2011, West Virginia lost a great man,
a great visionary and a monumental champion for the people of Mingo
County; and
Whereas, Following Mike's death, among the many condolences,
statements were issued by:
(1) West Virginia Governor Earl R. Tomblin who stated, "Mike
was an exceptional leader with an incredible passion for Mingo
County as well as the entire state. From his time and service in
the Legislature to his leadership of the Mingo County Redevelopment Authority, the lasting impact of Mike's work can be seen throughout
our state, especially Southern West Virginia";
(2) Congressman Nick Joe Rahall, stating, "Mike was a rare
breed. He was a thinker and a doer. An architect, designer,
businessman, contractor, banker, craftsman, laborer and a street
smart handy man whenever, wherever the need arose . . . all rolled
into one. He redefined public service with a mix of down home
common sense, hard work, ingenuity and innovation. He was light
years ahead of others in forging public funding and, above all,
creating good paying, sustainable jobs for families. His work will
live on here in the county, our state and country. It sure will
live on in the team he created with the Redevelopment Authority.
We all can take joy from this occasion that while it came far too
soon, that what time we had with him it was a privilege and honor
to know this man of faith, family and friends; that our lives will
continue to be enriched from the times we shared with him";
(3) Senator Joe Manchin, who stated, "Mike was a visionary.
He not only saw the big picture, he drew it and then colored it in
with remarkable detail. Then, harnessing his extraordinary
determination and organization, Mike built the relationships and
partnerships that could make this vision a reality. I cannot even
count the legacies that Mike Whitt left in Mingo County and for our
entire state. He will never be forgotten and his work will stand
for generations to come";
(4) Coworker and Executive Assistant, Leasha Johnson, stating,
"I believe in my heart that Mike Whitt, more than anyone I've ever
known, was born to make Mingo County a better place. And, that, he
did";
(5) Former West Virginia House of Delegate's Member and
Current Executive Director of Mingo County Redevelopment Authority,
Steve Kominar, who stated, "Mike was a true son of Mingo County and
was not shy about that. He loved this county, its people and the
future of Mingo County"; and
Whereas, Mike gave so much of himself, his heart and his mind
to West Virginia and, in particular, to Mingo County, that it is
most fitting for a highway which opens Mingo County to the world,
a highway that Mike was instrumental in developing, to be his
namesake and an everlasting tribute to this great man; therefore,
be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name all
sections, existing and to-be-constructed, of the King Coal Highway,
I-73/74, running through Mingo County, West Virginia, the "Mike
Whitt Visionary Leadership Highway"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby
requested to have made signs, to be erected at the beginning and
end of each section of the Highway and at regular intervals along
both sides of the highway, that state, in bold, prominent lettering, the "Mike Whitt Visionary Leadership Highway"; and, be
it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates
forward a certified copy of this resolution to the widow of Mike
Whitt, Regina Edwards Whitt, with separate certified copies to his
four children; certified copy to the Mingo County Redevelopment
Authority; certified copy to the County Commission of Mingo County;
and, certified copy to the Secretary of the Department of
Transportation.