Senate Concurrent Resolution 4

By Senators Stollings, Jeffries and Beach

[Introduced February 8, 2017]

Requesting the Division of Highways to name the future bridge, 03-3/14-0.10 (design number 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; and when this country sought skilled tradesmen in its armed forces, he enlisted in the United States Navy in 1942, eventually attaining the rank of Machinist’s Mate Second Class; and 

Whereas, U. S. Navy MM2 Carl Eugene 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; and 

Whereas, After faithfully and honorably serving his country, 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, and, 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; and 

Whereas, U. S. Army PFC Carl M. Nicholas answered his nation’s call to service, joining the United States Army in World War II in the European Theater of Operations, where he was assigned to Company I, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division from May 16, 1944, to September, 1945, where he participated in the Invasion of Normandy on D-Day and in the Battle of the Bulge; and

Whereas, U. S. Army PFC Carl M. Nicholas was wounded in action on June 26, 1944, when he received and survived bullet wounds from a German sniper and for which he was awarded the Purple Heart; he also was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement in active ground combat; and 

Whereas, Upon his return to civilian life, U. S. Army PFC Carl M. Nicholas 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; and 

Whereas, After a life well lived in service to his community and his country, Carl M. Nicholas passed away on September 3, 2014; and

Whereas, Recognizing that both U. S. Navy MM2 Carl Eugene Keeney and U. S. Army PFC Carl M. Nicholas are lifelong residents of Boone County on Big Coal River, 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 number 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 Commissioner of the Division of Highways is hereby 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 Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.