HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 43

(By Delegates Byrd, Capito, Nelson, and Skaff)

[Introduced January 30, 2019]

Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 13-60-34.93 (13A114), locally known as Caldwell Bridge, carrying U. S. Route 60 over the Greenbrier River in Greenbrier County, the “U. S. Army Air Corps T SGT Ralph H. Ray Bridge”.

Whereas, Ralph Herman Ray was born in Anthony, West Virginia on November 13, 1922, to James Alfred Ray and Georgie Mae Spence; and

Whereas, Ralph H. Ray graduated from Frankford High School early at the age of 17 in 1940; and

Whereas, Ralph H. Ray left his home in West Virginia to complete his enlisted physical for the United States Army Air Corps on January 7,1943; and

Whereas, T SGT earned his airplane mechanic diploma at the Ford Factory in Michigan the spring of 1943; and

Whereas, T SGT Ray then completed gunnery school in Laredo, Texas; and

Whereas, T SGT Ray was assigned to a top-notch flight crew with whom he trained for three months; and

Whereas, T SGT Ray and his crew traveled to Trinidad, Brazil, Africa, Morocco, and Wales before reaching the Tibenham Base in East England; and

Whereas, Serving as flight engineer, T SGT Ray and his crew flew thirty successful missions before returning to the United States; and

Whereas, T SGT Ray spent the last ten months of his enlistment at Air Transport Corps in Miami, Florida; and

Whereas, After his release from the United States Army Air Corps, T SGT Ray worked as an airplane mechanic for Bollinger Airport in Davis Creek, West Virginia, and there he earned his civilian pilot’s license; and

Whereas, T SGT Ray began working as a chemical technician for Westvaco in South Charleston, West Virginia in 1948; and

Whereas, T SGT Ray built a beautiful and loving family, marrying his wife Mary Madeline Hudson (now deceased) on April 16, 1948; and

Whereas, Together, they raised four daughters: Valerie Ann Lyons, Angela Sue Ray, Verna Ray-Breaux, and Anita Ray-Kirk; and

Whereas, T SGT Ray retired in 1984 and presently resides with his daughter Angela S. Ray; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring monument be established to commemorate Technical Sergeant Ralph H. Ray 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 13-60-34.93 (13A114), locally known as Caldwell Bridge, carrying U. S. Route 60 over the Greenbrier River in Greenbrier County, the “U. S. Army Air Corps TSgt. Ralph H. Ray Bridge”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge as the “U. S. Army Air Corps T SGT Ralph H. Ray Bridge”; and, be it

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