COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

FOR

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 11

(By Senators Kirkendoll, Stollings, Plymale and Jenkins)

[Originating in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure]

Requesting the Division of Highways to name bridge number 23-110/20-0.23, located on County Route 110/20 in Logan, West Virginia, crossing a side channel of the Guyandotte River and locally known as the Logan High School Bridge, the “U. S. Army Major Thomas McElwain Memorial Bridge”.

    Whereas, Thomas McElwain was born in Logan, West Virginia, November 25, 1940, and was raised primarily by his maternal grandparents; and

    Whereas, Thomas McElwain attended Logan High School for a year, but later obtained a high school equivalency diploma; and

    Whereas, Thomas McElwain enlisted in the United States Army in 1958, at the age of eighteen, and underwent basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina; and

    Whereas, Thomas McElwain later attended Drury College in Springfield, Missouri, and the University of Maryland Far East Branch, obtaining two Master’s Degrees; and

    Whereas, Thomas McElwain rose through the ranks as an enlisted soldier and became a commissioned officer, completing numerous training assignments, including airborne training and special forces training, and completing officer candidate school at Fort Benning, Georgia, in 1963; and

    Whereas, Army Major Thomas McElwain was commanding officer of Company C, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry in Vietnam in 1967 and 1968; and

    Whereas, Army Major Thomas McElwain was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action during a search-and-destroy mission November 11, 1967, near Dak To, Republic of Vietnam. When his company came under a heavy enemy mortar, rocket and small-arms attack, Major (then Captain) McElwain distinguished himself on several occasions during the seven-hour battle, exposing himself to enemy fire to drag a wounded man to safety and to carry out the requirements of his command, although wounded himself; and

    Whereas, In addition to the Silver Star, Major Thomas McElwain was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor (three awards), Army Commendation Medal for Valor (two awards), Purple Heart, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star, the Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Air Medal, Combat Infantry Badge and the Senior Parachutist Badge; and

    Whereas, After his second tour of duty in Vietnam as a military advisor to thirty-six thousand Montagnards, Major Thomas McElwain was chosen by General William Westmoreland for a National Speakers Tour. He traveled extensively throughout West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio to local civic organizations to share information about the war; and

    Whereas, After his stint as a speaker for the Army, Major Thomas McElwain became Commandant of Cadets at the University of Nebraska in Omaha. After this, Major McElwain was assigned to the ROTC program at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Since his office was located in the gym, he developed a friendship with Al McGuire, the head basketball coach at Marquette at that time. Having earned two Master’s Degrees while in the Army and upon retiring from the Army, Major Thomas McElwain taught at Park College, taught at Webster College Graduate School, supervised student teachers at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and taught fourth grade at Radford School for Girls; and

    Whereas, Major Thomas McElwain was a 32nd Degree Mason and was a member of the Grand Lodge of Texas Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Wallace Hughton Lodge Number 1393. He was also active in the Shriners. Following retirement Major McElwain moved to Henderson, Nevada, where he lived and enjoyed playing golf with family and friends, shooting his pistols and cooking; and

    Whereas, Army Major Thomas McElwain died September 24, 2013; and

    Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established in the community he considered home to commemorate this native son’s service to his country; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 23-110/20-0.23, located on County Route 110/20 in Logan, West Virginia, crossing a side channel of the Guyandotte River and locally known as the Logan High School Bridge, the “U. S. Army Major Thomas McElwain 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 “U. S. Army Major Thomas McElwain 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 Commissioner of the Division of Highways; to James W. Mullins; and to family members of Army Major Thomas McElwain.