Committee Substitute

for

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 20

 (By Senators Ashley, Stollings and Plymale)

[Originating in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; reported on February 17, 2016]

Requesting Division of Highways name bridge on Interstate 77 over County Route 19 and Allen Fork, bridge number 20-77-117.30 northbound and southbound (20A236 20A453) (38.56209, -81.63631) in Kanawha County, the “U. S. Army CPL Troy Matthews Memorial Bridge”.

Whereas, Troy Matthews was born July 8, 1914, in Putnam County, West Virginia, the son of  Ed and Hulda Matthews.  As a young man, the family lived on Cabin Creek in Kanawha County where his father worked in the coal mines.  After the coal mine wars in the late 20s, his parents bought a small farm in Sissonville and moved the family there. 

Whereas, Troy enlisted in the United States Army on June 8, 1941, and was sent to Ft. Knox, Kentucky where he was trained as a tank mechanic and served in Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Armored Division.  He served in Northern France, the Ardennes (Belgium) and Rhineland (Germany — European Theater of Operations) where he was wounded as a result of enemy action on September 15, 1944. 

Whereas, His wounds resulted in paralysis to his right arm and hand and serious wounds to his back and leg. He spent over a year in several military hospitals and was discharged from the Army as a Tec 5 (Corporal) from Northington General Hospital in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on October 11, 1945. His decorations include the European Theater Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, three Bronze Battle Stars and a Purple Heart.

Whereas, Although his injuries were severe, and his right hand and arm paralyzed, he learned to write again with his left hand and to do most anything he could do before his injuries. He farmed, worked on equipment and in March 1950, he went to work for the Department of the Navy at the Naval Ordnance Plant in South Charleston, West Virginia, where he helped to make tracked military vehicles. He worked there until the plant was decommissioned and closed in 1961 after being sold to FMC.  At that time, he applied for and received his disability retirement based on his service record and related disability.  Although retired, he continued to work for many years as a dispatcher for Point Express, a trucking company in Charleston. 

Whereas, Troy was married to the late Glyda Boggess Matthews.  They had three children: Linda, Dennis and Jay. Troy passed away on May 20, 1984, at the age of 69; and

Whereas, Naming the bridge on Interstate 77 over County Route 19 and Allen Fork, bridge number 20-77-117.30 northbound and southbound (20A236 20A453) (38.56209, -81.63631) in Kanawha County, the “U. S. Army CPL Troy Matthews Memorial Bridge” is an appropriate recognition of his contributions to his country, state, community and Kanawha County; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name the bridge on Interstate 77 over County Route 19 and Allen Fork, Bridge Number 20-77-117.30 Northbound and Southbound (20A236 20A453) (38.56209, -81.63631) in Kanawha County, the “U. S. Army CPL Troy Matthews Memorial 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 “U. S. Army CPL Troy Matthews 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 and any surviving members of the family of CPL Troy Matthews.