SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 72
(By Senators Hunter and Kessler)
Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 46-119/42-
0.16 (3389) located on Yates Crossing Road in Grafton, Taylor
County, the "Clair Bee: Basketball Coach and Author Memorial
Bridge".
Whereas, The late Clair Bee, the grandson of Ephraim Bee who
was a member of the first West Virginia Legislature, was born in
Grafton, West Virginia in March of 1896; and
Whereas, Clair Bee was an outstanding American basketball
coach who led Long Island University to two undefeated seasons in
1936 and 1939 as well as two National Invitation Tournament titles;
and
Whereas, Bee's Teams won ninety-five percent of their games
from 1931-1951, including forty-three in a row from 1935 to 1937;
and
Whereas, Clair Bee started his career as a student basketball
player at Grafton High School and followed his dream to become the
coach of the National Basketball Association's Baltimore Bullets
from 1952-1954; and
Whereas, Clair Bee, was inducted into the Basketball Hall of
Fame in 1968, and the "Clair Bee Coach of the Year Award" is
awarded every year to a coach who makes an outstanding contribution to the game of college basketball; and
Whereas, Clair Bee created the fictional Chip Hilton series of
books for children, which have inspired teen athletes for over five
decades instilling lasting values and developing solid character,
from which the "Chip Hilton Player of the Year Award" was created
and is given every year to a men's basketball player; and
Whereas, Clair Bee brought fame and honor to his hometown of
Grafton, West Virginia; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name
bridge number 46-119/42-0.16 (3389) located on Yates Crossing Road
in Grafton, Taylor County, the "Clair Bee: Basketball Coach and
Author 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 "Clair Bee: Basketball Coach and Author 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 Secretary of
Transportation, the Mayor and City Council of the City of Grafton,
West Virginia, David A. Smith, President of the Grafton High School
Athletic Boosters and the surviving members of Clair Bee's family.