HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO.16
(By Delegate Stemple)
Providing for naming the section of West Virginia Route 16 from the
intersection of West Virginia Route 16 and West Virginia Route
5, North to the Ritchie County line the "Sheriff Park D.
Richards Memorial Highway."
Whereas, Park D. Richards served honorably as sheriff of
Calhoun County until his untimely death at the age of sixty-two,
during the line of duty in 1976; and
Whereas, On November 18, 1976, Calhoun County sheriff Park D.
Richards died in the line of duty while he and State Trooper C.W.
"Chuck" McDonald were serving a warrant on a dangerous and
disturbed individual; and
Whereas, When Sheriff Richards and Trooper McDonald announced
their intent, the individual fired a high powered rifle, striking
Sheriff Richards in the throat; and
Whereas, Sheriff Richards died at the scene of the crime
shortly after being shot; and
Whereas, Sheriff Richards is memorialized in a plaque memorial
which hangs on one of the pillars at the Calhoun County Courthouse;
and
Whereas, Sheriff Richards is memorialized as one of the names
which appears on "Fallen Partner," the State of West Virginia's
Statue Memorial to West Virginia Police Officers killed in the line
of duty, located outside the Cultural Center at the Capitol Complex
in Charleston; and
Whereas, There is an online memorial to Sheriff Richards,
hosted by The Officer Down Memorial Page, Inc. where he is honored
with the 17,344 United States police officers who have died in the
country to date; and
Whereas, Those who knew Richards can leave remembrances of him
at www.odmp.org; and
Whereas, The Town of Grantsville has declared November 18 as
Sheriff Park Richards Day, and a wreath will be hung beneath his
plaque at the Calhoun County Courthouse annually; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the section of West Virginia Route 16 from the
intersection of West Virginia Route 16 and West Virginia Route 5,
North to the Ritchie County line be named the "Sheriff Park D.
Richards Memorial Highway" and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of
Highways is hereby requested to cause to be manufactured
appropriate signs with the prominent display of the words "Sheriff
Park D. Richards Memorial Highway" and to erect same along the
section of West Virginia Route 16 from the intersection of West Virginia Route 16 and West Virginia Route 5, North to the Ritchie
County line, West Virginia.
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