SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 5

(By Senators Sypolt, Williams, Barnes, Foster, D. Facemire and Helmick)

Recognizing the considerable contributions of Henry Gassaway Davis to the state of West Virginia and the United States.

    Whereas, Henry Gassaway Davis had an incomparable career in West Virginia as businessman, entrepreneur, community builder, politician, public servant, statesman, philanthropist, and father and husband; and

    Whereas, Henry Gassaway Davis began his business and political career in Piedmont, West Virginia; and

    Whereas, While residing in Piedmont, Henry Gassaway Davis was first elected to the West Virginia Legislature in 1866; and

    Whereas, Henry Gassaway Davis’s first actions as a delegate were to introduce the legislation that created Mineral County from Hampshire County, that incorporated the City of Piedmont, and separated Grant County from Hardy County; and

    Whereas, Henry Gassaway Davis was selected as United States Senator from West Virginia in 1870, and became the first West Virginian to serve as chairman of the appropriations committee; and

    Whereas, Henry Gassaway Davis also was his party’s nominee for Vice President of the United States in 1904, at the age of 81; and

    Whereas, Henry Gassaway Davis served as an Elector to the Democratic National Convention 12 times from 1866 to 1912; and

    Whereas, Henry Gassaway Davis was appointed to the United States Trade Commission and served as a Delegate at the Conference of American Republics and the Pan American Railroad Commission and served his state on the West Virginia Tax Commission, the semi-centennial commission and other entities; and

    Whereas, Henry Gassaway Davis was instrumental in the establishment of many communities throughout the state including Davis, Thomas, Elkins, and towns along his railways; and

    Whereas, Henry Gassaway Davis’s railroad companies built the West Virginia Central Railway and the Chesapeake and Potomac Railway that served West Virginia from Charleston to Cumberland, Maryland and opened the state to other development; and

    Whereas, Henry Gassaway Davis had extensive business interests in coal, timber, railroads, banking, retailing, farming and real estate in the state of West Virginia; and

    Whereas, Henry Gassaway Davis donated, with his brother Thomas, land for the Piedmont School, the Mineral County Courthouse, Keyser High School, Davis and Elkins College, West Virginia Children’s Home and many other churches, educational buildings and public building throughout West Virginia; and

    Whereas, Henry Gassaway Davis was the principal benefactor of Davis and Elkins College and the West Virginia Children’s Home, was one of the founding fathers for the Weston State Hospital and the Romney School for the Deaf and the Blind and provided funds for the construction of YMCAs in Charleston and Elkins; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Senate:

    That the Senate hereby recognizes Henry Gassaway Davis for his dedicated public service to the state of West Virginia; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the appropriate representatives.