HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 85

(By Delegate J. Nelson, Ambler, Blair, Butler, Cooper, Espinosa, Ferro, Fluharty, Folk, Hill, Ireland, Kessinger, Kurcaba, Manchin, Marcum, McGeehan, Miley, Moore, Moye, O’Neal, Perdue, Perry, Pethtel, R. Phillips, Rohrbach, Rowan, R. Smith, Sobonya, Sponaugle, Statler, Upson, Wagner, Walters, Westfall, H. White, Williams and Zatezalo)

Requesting the Division of Highways to name a future bridge, 03-3/14-0.10 (design # 11082) (38.09778, -81.61498), carrying county route 3/14 over Big Coal River in Boone County, the "U.S. Navy MM2 Carl E. Keeney and U.S. Army PFC Carl M. Nicholas Memorial Bridge."

            Whereas, Carl Eugene Keeney was born to Dewey and Ruth Skeens Keeney on March 27, 1925, in Seth, West Virginia. He learned to repair engines and vehicles at an early age and became skilled as a machinist. When this country sought skilled tradesmen in its Armed Forces, he enlisted in the United States Navy in 1942, eventually attaining the rating of Machinist's Mate - Second Class. Machinist's Mate Keeney served over three years in the Pacific Theater and saw combat in the Solomon Islands and at Okinawa. He was awarded three battle stars before he was honorably discharged in 1946. Thereafter, Carl E. Keeney applied his machinist's skills in the coal industry, working as a driver, mechanic and machinist in Boone County until his retirement; and

            Whereas, Carl M. Nicholas was born to Dan and Frona Cottrell Nicholas on September 27, 1922, in Bickmore, West Virginia. Though he left school after eight years to help support his family, he became quite accomplished in a mining career that spanned five decades in the coalfields of southern West Virginia. He answered his nation's call to service, joining the United States Army in World War II in the European Theater of Operations. He participated in the Invasion of Normandy on D-Day and in the Battle of the Bulge. He also received and survived bullet wounds from a German sniper, for which he was awarded the Purple Heart. Upon his return to civilian life, he continued his mining career with some of the most prominent companies in the industry and he became a successful businessman as proprietor of his own trucking company. He continued to support military veterans and was a leader of the effort to secure dedicated parking for veterans at our State Capitol. After a life well lived in service to his community and his country, Carl M. Nicholas passed away on September 3, 2014; and

            Whereas, It is an appropriate recognition of their contributions to their country, state, community and Boone County to name a bridge over the Big Coal River in their honor; therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

            That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name the future bridge, 03-3/14-0.10 (design # 11082) (38.09778, -81.61498), carrying county route 3/14 over Big Coal River in Boone County, the "U.S. Navy MM2 Carl E. Keeney and U.S. Army PFC Carl M. Nicholas Memorial 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 ""U.S. Navy MM2 Carl E. Keeney and U.S. Army PFC Carl M. Nicholas Memorial 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 to the families of each of these honored veterans.