HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 17

(By Delegates Phillips, Marcum, Rodighiero and P. White)

January 21, 2016

Requesting the Division of Highways name Greenville Road Bridge, located in Logan County near the town of Man which traverses Rock House Creek, the “SGT Larry Joseph Whitt Bridge.”

Whereas, Larry Joseph Whitt was the son of the late Frank and Texie Whitt of Greenville, West Virginia; and

Whereas, SGT Whitt joined the United States Army in 1969 and served his country valiantly during the Vietnam War where he received horrific combat injuries, including the loss of both of his legs, his left arm from his elbow down and an eye, while, additionally, having to undergo surgery to remove shrapnel from his brain; and

Whereas, After receiving these injuries he recovered from them in the Walter Reed Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio and he became an inspiration to all whose lives he touched, as he suffered his injuries without complaint nor blame while continuing to enjoy life; and

Whereas SGT Whitt married Lillian McCoy and adopted her three children, Lisa, James David and Gaye while later being blessed with two sons from his marriage to Ms. McCoy, Larry and Kevin. Further, SGT Whitt was blessed with loving brothers and sisters who helped make sure his life included many activities he enjoyed, especially hunting and fishing; and

Whereas, Approximately ten years after his service to this country as a combat soldier in Viet Nam, SGT Whitt developed leukemia to which he succumbed on April 17, 1980, one day shy of his birthday; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to erect signs at both entrances to the Greenville Road Bridge located in Logan County near the town of Man which traverses Rock House Creek renaming the bridge the “SGT Larry Joseph Whitt Bridge”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a certified copy of this concurrent resolution to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and all surviving family members of SGT Whitt, named herein.