HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 64

(By Delegates Hansen, Fleischauer, Walker, Statler, and Williams)

[February 14, 2022]

Requesting the Division of Highways name a portion of  Old Route 73 (39.659317, -79.772097 to 39.658476, -79.645041), in Preston County, West Virginia, the “Robin W. Ames Memorial Road”.

Whereas, Robin Wendell Ames was tragically killed by the careless actions of a distracted driver who was texting on her phone and hit and killed him while he rode his bike along Old Route 73 in Bruceton Mills on the day of February 17, 2020; and

Whereas, Robin Wendell Ames was married to Karrah Ames and had two young children: Charlotte Ames and Elliette Ames; and

Whereas, Mr. Ames was 37 years old when the negligent actions of another forever altered the lives of his family; and

Whereas, The driver was sentenced to home confinement for 30 days and served no time in jail as her actions were only deemed a misdemeanor offense, and has continued her life without significant consequence, while to this day his family is still trying to adjust to their lives without a father and husband; and

Whereas, Mr. Ames was educated at West Virginia University as a mechanical engineer and had launched a successful and promising career, where at the time of his death he was employed at the National Energy and Technology Laboratories of the United States Department of Energy in Morgantown, quickly rising through the ranks to become Project Manager; and

Whereas, Programs he managed were of vital importance to regional coal and natural gas industries such as the supercritical Carbon Dioxide Power Cycle Program; and

Whereas, He was an active and respected member of outdoor sports and recreation communities, volunteered for and donated to the Cooper’s Rock Foundation, Friends of Decker’s Creek, and Heartwood in the Hills, resulting in the loss of his life not only irreparably harming his family, but his community and the State of West Virginia; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate his loss, to honor his memory for his family and friends, to recognize his importance to his community, and to promote awareness of the dangers of texting and driving; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name a portion of Old Route 73 (39.659317, -79.772097 to 39.658476, -79.645041), in Preston County, West Virginia, the “Robin W. Ames Memorial Road”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs at both ends identifying the portion of road as the “Robin W. Ames Memorial Road” include the words “Don’t text and drive.”; 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.