HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 79

(By Delegates Phillips, Jennings and J. Jeffries)

[Introduced March 29, 2021]

Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number: 47-219/00-008.84 () (47A080), (39.09576,-79.66916) locally known as Blackfork Bridge, carrying US 219 over Blackfork Cheat River in Tucker county, the “William Mahan Harman and Louise Frances Harman Memorial Bridge”.

Whereas, William “Lawyer Will” Mahan Harman was born on September 13, 1900, at Harman, WV, and was the son of John William and Myrtle Lillian Miley Harman. His father, John William, practiced law in Petersburg until the death of his first wife, Minnie Harman, on March 29, 1896.  John William then relocated his practice to Harman in 1897 and remained there until April 1901 when he moved to Parsons; and

Whereas, William Mahan Harman, known as “Lawyer Will”, attended school in Parsons and graduated from Parsons High School in June of 1918.  He attended Ohio University, Cincinnati Law School, and was graduated from the University of Southern California School of Law in 1922. After graduation, he returned to Parsons, and joined his father in the law practice. He seemed to be successful from the start and was among the leading lawyers of Tucker County. Lawyer Will continued to practice law for nearly 50 years in the county; and

Whereas, Lawyer Will married Louise Frances Poffenbarger on July 9,1924. Louise was born May 7, 1905, the daughter of William H. and Valeria Poffenbarger. Her mother owned and operated the Commercial Hotel on Main Street in Parsons. Louise graduated from Parsons High School in 1924; she was a homemaker and a member of the First United Methodist Church of Parsons and the River City Garden Club; and

Whereas, William Mahan Harman served as general counsel, vice-president and president of the First National Bank of Parsons. He was also a member of Alumnae Association of the University of Southern California, a member the American Bar Association, and the First United Methodist Church of Parsons; and

Whereas, Lawyer Will gained a fine reputation of winning many difficult cases and was recognized as one of the best criminal lawyers in the state; so much so that when someone got into serious trouble it is reported they would say “Get Will Harman”; and

Whereas, In 1992, Louise Harman established the Louise Harman Fund with the Tucker Community Foundation. Its purpose is to provide funding for the upkeep of the Parsons City Cemetery, the River City and Mill Race Parks of Parsons, and the Five Rivers Public Library of Parsons; and

Whereas, In 2003, the William Mahan Harman Memorial Fund was opened within the Tucker Community Foundation, funded by the Estate of William Mahan Harman. The purpose of the Fund is to provide perpetual funding for the Parsons City Cemetery, Mill Race and River City Parks, Five Rivers Public Library, and the Citizens of Parsons, and is also managed by the Tucker Community Foundation. The Fund has since funded numerous projects, facilities, infrastructure, structures, renovation of structures, and improvements for these entities and the citizens of Parsons and Tucker County; and

Whereas, William Mahan Harman passed away August 29, 1971, and Louise Frances Harman passed away December 1, 2002. They were both interred in the Parsons City Cemetery beside each other; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate William Mahan Harman and Louise Frances Harman and their contributions to Parsons, Tucker County, 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: 47-219/00-008.84 () (47A080), (39.09576,-79.66916) locally known as Blackfork Bridge, carrying US 219 over Blackfork Cheat River in Tucker county, the “William Mahan Harman and Louise Frances Harman Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge as the “William Mahan Harman and Louise Frances Harman Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

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