SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 6

(By Senators Oliverio, Prezioso, Hunter, Kessler, Dawson, Ross, McCabe, Mitchell, Love, Wooton, Bowman, Minard, Helmick, Jackson, Fanning, Edgell, Chafin, Anderson, Dittmar, Bailey, Sharpe, Ball, Craigo, McKenzie, Redd, Unger, Deem, Minear, Sprouse, Plymale and Tomblin (Mr. President))

Requesting the Division of Highways place commemorative signs along Beechurst Avenue and Monongahela Boulevard in Morgantown which state "Jerry West Boulevard" in symbolic recognition of the famed pro basketball player from West Virginia.

Whereas, Jerry Alan West was born May 28, 1938, at Cabin Creek. He attended East Bank High School and led his team to a state championship his senior year, becoming the first West Virginia player in scholastic history to score more than 900 points in one season. He was twice named an All-American at West Virginia University and led the Mountaineers to a national championship game in 1959 and won the tournament's Most Outstanding Player; and
Whereas, After playing on the United States' basketball team and winning the gold medal at the 1960 summer Olympics in Rome, Jerry West joined the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers; and
Whereas, Jerry West excelled as a guard throughout his playing career, gaining a reputation as a perfectionist. He scored more than 25,000 points in his regular season career, averaging 27 points per game including averaging over 40 points per game in eleven playoff games in 1965; and
Whereas, Jerry West was named to the All-NBA First Team ten times and the All-Defensive First Team four times. West was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player in 1969, won the league's scoring title in 1969-1970 and helped lead the Lakers to the NBA championship title in 1971-1972; and
Whereas, Jerry West retired from play after the 1973-74 season, but he returned in 1976 to coach the Lakers for three seasons; and
Whereas, In 1979 Jerry West was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame; and
Whereas, In 1982 Jerry West became the general manager of the Lakers and built a highly successful team by means of shrewd draft picks and trades; and
Whereas, Throughout the 1980s, under the leadership of Jerry West, the Los Angles Lakers played in seven NBA championship finals, winning in 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988. In 1995, West was named NBA Executive of the Year; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby requests the Division of Highways place commemorative signs along Beechurst Avenue and Monongahela Boulevard in Morgantown which state "Jerry West Boulevard" in symbolic recognition of a great athlete and a great West Virginian who brought pride and distinction to the State of West Virginia as a college and pro basketball player and as a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame; 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 and to Jerry West, basketball Hall of Fame member.