HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 127
(By Delegate Boggs)
Requesting that the bridge between mile markers 54 and 55 on
Interstate 79 in Braxton County, West Virginia be named the
"Ray P. Reip Memorial Bridge."
Whereas, Ray P. Reip was born in Braxton County, West Virginia
in 1919 on his parent's farm; and
Whereas, Ray Reip would walk several miles through countryside
and then cross the Elk River by boat to attend high school; and
Whereas, Ray Reip served in the United States Navy during World
War II as an aviation radioman, and, after his honorable discharge,
Ray returned to his beloved farm in Braxton County where he married
his wife and had two daughters; and
Whereas, Following in his father's footsteps, Ray Reip was a
farmer, that any neighbor could rely on day or night for his help;
and
Whereas, They once said, "Give Ray a pair of pliers and some
bailer twine and he could fix anything"; and
Whereas, With the decision to build Interstate 79, Interstate
79 would transect Ray's farm, taking his homestead, three barns,
three ponds and land locking approximately 30 acres; and
Whereas, Although Ray was devastated, he continued to raise cattle, sheep and work construction on the very type of roads that
had taken his beloved land; and
Whereas, Ray worked hard to provide for his family, and always
loved living in West Virginia, which he truly believed was the next
best place to Heaven; and
Whereas, Ray's surviving wife is now age 86 and served as a
marine in World War II and is one of the oldest female veterans of
World War II in Braxton County, West Virginia; and
Whereas, Ray P. Reip was a wonderful husband, a loving father,
a loyal neighbor, and served his community unselfishly, his country
with honor and distinction; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name the
the bridge between mile markers 54 and 55 on Interstate 79 in
Braxton County, West Virginia, the "Ray P. Reip Memorial Bridge";
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of
Highways is hereby requested to erect signs at both ends of the
bridge containing bold and prominent letters proclaiming the bridge
the "Ray P. Reip Memorial Bridge"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates
forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of
the Division of Highways, Mr. Reip's wife, Betty Reip and his two
daughters, Barbara Morgan and Donna Pierson.
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