SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 36

(By Senator Maynard)

Requesting the Division of Highways name the bridge on County Route 5/3, bridge number 24-5/3-3.10 (1030), crossing the Tug River in McDowell County the “Homer Hopkins Bridge”.

            Whereas, Homer Allen Hopkins was born March 6, 1944, in Bradshaw, West Virginia, growing up in the time of the Depression with five other siblings. At age one, his family moved to Garland, a distance of 8.1 miles north from his birthplace. He has always been known locally for his hard working habits, even in his childhood days. He graduated high school in 1962 and enrolled at Nashville Auto Diesel College (now known as Lincoln College of Technology). He returned to Garland and in 1963 he married his wife, Joyce. After a brief move to Alexandria, Virginia, with wife and daughter, he returned to Garland, where he and his wife raised four children. In July 1975, he left his employment and opened up his own mining business. It seems that he would always find himself as a business owner creating jobs and new opportunities for everyone in and around the community of Garland. Besides the coal industry, he has also owned his own construction business as well as becoming a certified contractor and septic system installer. During his lifetime he has owned approximately 30 coal mines, with 500 employees. His construction career has resulted in building a total of eleven Dollar General stores throughout West Virginia, with three being in his home county. In 1985 he built a convenient store / gas station 2.6 miles from the residents of Garland family owned and operated as “Hopkins’ Best-Way”. In 1987, he built and opened “Hoppy’s Skating Rink” on the outskirts of Bradshaw, bringing a new activity and recreational option for the families of the area and all around McDowell County. Later in 1989, he opened “Bradshaw Auto Parts” and became the only automotive business in the area. He was also responsible for construction the Marquee Cinemas in Welch, McDowell County Ambulance Authority, Panther Fire Department, Iaeger City Hall, Iaeger High School announcement booth and the reconstruction of the high school’s football field after the flood in 2002; and

            Whereas, Homer Hopkins has unselfishly spent his lifetime working for the betterment of his community and county and serving the needs of the people, whether it be charitable acts of kindness or continuing to work for the people in his community. He is now 71 years of age and still lives in the home he built board by board as a newlywed on his childhood stomping grounds. Homer loves nothing more than spending time with his family. He has four children and five grandchildren who all live within 10 minutes of his home, making it a very close-knit family; and

            Whereas, Naming the bridge on County Route 5/3, bridge number 24-5/3-3.10 (1030), crossing the Tug River in McDowell County the “Homer Hopkins Bridge” is an appropriate recognition of his contributions to his state, community and McDowell County; therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

            That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name the bridge on County Route 5/3, bridge number 24-5/3-3.10 (1030), crossing the Tug River in McDowell County the “Homer Hopkins Bridge”; and, be it

            Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge as the “Homer Hopkins 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 the Department of Transportation and Homer Hopkins and his family.