HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 16

(By Delegate Mallow)

[Introduced January 15, 2024; Referred
to the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure then Rules.]

Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 25-091/00-001.24 (25A274), locally known as Rachel Railroad Bridge, carrying County Route 91 over an abandoned railroad bed in Marion County, the "Thomas Leo Starsick Memorial Bridge".

Whereas, Thomas Leo Starsick was born on September 22, 1935, in House #38 at Rachel Camp; and

Whereas, Mr. Starsick had lost both parents by the time he was thirteen years old and his older sister moved back into the family home to raise her siblings; and

Whereas, After graduating from high school, Mr. Starsick worked at the Buick garage in Fairmont washing cars; and

Whereas, After working for the Buick dealership for about a year, the owner asked Mr. Starsick if he would like to travel to Rock Island to train on a new front end alignment machine he was going to purchase and

Whereas, At 20 years old, Mr. Starsick boarded a train to attend training in Rock Island and caught the travel bug, as well as learning the skills he needed to progress in what became his 42 year-long career as the premier front-end man in Marion County; and

Whereas, Mr. Starsick never married but his love of travelling only grew, and he traveled to 49 states, Canada, Mexico; and

Whereas, Mr. Starsick's true passion was West Virginia, and he visited all 55 County Seats, every state park and major attractions; and

Whereas, Mr. Starsick's main interest was the history of the B&O Railroad, of which he compiled many photos and documents about America's first major railroad and helped Terry Arbogast write his books about the railroad, including the abandoned railroad bed under the bridge about which this resolution is written, which was a main line for the B&O Railroad; and

Whereas, Mr. Starsick passed away in Marion County, where he lived his entire life; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate Thomas Leo Starsick and his/her contributions to our state and country; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 25-091/00-001.24 (25A274), locally known as Rachel Railroad Bridge, carrying County Route 91 over an abandoned railroad bed in Marion County, the "Thomas Leo Starsick 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 "Thomas Leo Starsick Memorial Bridge"; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House is shall forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.