HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 60

(By Mr. Speaker (Mr. Miley), Delegates Iaquinta, Fragale

                        and Hamrick)

Requesting the Division of Highways to name the bridge on Route 279 between the FBI CJIS Division and Route 50 crossing Interstate 79 (Jerry Dove Exit 124), bridge number 17-279-166, in Harrison County, the "Lester W. ‘Cappy’ Burnside, Jr. Bridge".

    Whereas, Lester W. "Cappy" Burnside, Jr. was born in Clarksburg in January 1934; his parents were the late Lester W. Burnside and Louise Nowery Burnside. He graduated from Greenbrier Military School, Lewisburg, and West Virginia University. He and his wife, Carolyn Reynolds Burnside, were married in 1956. They have two daughters, Kate Burnside, in Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman, and Mary Wade Burnside, in Fairmont and a grandson; and

    Whereas, Lester W. "Cappy" Burnside, Jr. is a Life Member of the WVU Alumni Foundation and was inducted into the Emeritus Club in 2005. He served in the United States Army and retired as a Captain in the United States Army Reserve. He served a two-year term as President of the Harrison County Chamber of Commerce beginning in 1988. In 1985, he had initiated the Blue Ribbon Committee of the Chamber to unify economic development efforts. This grew into the Joint Committee for Economic Development, which eventually incorporated as Harrison 2000 with the motto “2000 Jobs by 2000"; and

    Whereas, In January 1990, just as Burnside was taking office as President of Harrison 2000, it was announced that the FBI Identification Division would relocate to West Virginia, in order to implement the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS), a new computer system to identify fingerprints in a matter of minutes, and would be looking for possible sites. By May, Burnside had organized an FBI property committee, began discussions with property owners, evaluated utility extensions to each site and established personal relationships with FBI officials. Each effort was an element that contributed to the final chemistry for a successful project. By late June, FBI officials asked Harrison 2000 to option 1000 acres adjacent to I-79 by August 1. Facing a formidable task, Burnside began the necessary legwork to obtain the options while keeping the project location confidential. For a year and a half, Burnside put aside many of his duties with his business and most of his time for leisure with his family to concentrate on securing the FBI project. He worked arduously and meticulously during this time to accomplish numerous FBI requirements; and

    Whereas, Twenty years after these events, Route 279 (Jerry Dove Exit 124), has opened an entire area for development resulting in Charles Pointe, White Oaks, and United Hospital Center and further economic development and well-being of Harrison County; and

    Whereas, Lester W. "Cappy" Burnside, Jr. participated in many community groups including: Association of Industrial Development: Board of Directors; Clarksburg Industrial Development Corporation: President, 1989-1990; Boy Scouts of America, Central West Virginia Council: Board of Directors; North Bend Rails to Trails Foundation: Advisory Board; American Society of Highway Engineers, Central West Virginia Chapter: President, 1989; Mon Valley Tri-State Network; Clarksburg Planning and Zoning Commission: Member; Salvation Army Advisory Board; Clarksburg Kiwanis Club: President 1969-1970.

Until 2006, he was a board member of the Friends of West Virginia Public Radio, which he served as chair in 1995 and then as treasurer. He was president and treasurer of Consolidated Supply Company, which he closed in 1992. In recent years he was a

consultant to building supply firms specializing in materials for highways and bridges; and

    Whereas, Naming that bridge on Route 279 for "Cappy" Burnside is an appropriate recognition of his contributions to the economic development and well-being of Harrison County; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name the bridge on Route 279 between the FBI CJIS Division and Route 50 crossing Interstate 79, bridge number 17-279-166, in Harrison County (Jerry Dove Exit 124), the "Lester W. ‘Cappy’ Burnside, Jr. Bridge"; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge as the "Lester W. ‘Cappy’ Burnside, Jr. Bridge"; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Lester W. ‘Cappy’ Burnside, Jr. and his family.