HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 22

(By Delegate Hanshaw (Mr. Speaker))

February 8, 2023
Referred to the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure then the Committee on Rules

Requesting the Division of Highways name a portion of Rt. 16, otherwise known as the "Clay Highway" starting at the intersection of Rt. 16 and Fola Road and ending at the end of the bridge on Rt. 16 in Clay County, as the "U.S. Army T/5 Doyle Bedell Taylor Memorial Bridge".

Whereas, Doyle Bedell Taylor was born on December 9, 1925, in Bickmore, West Virginia to Willie and Flossie Morris Taylor, into a family of seven boys and four girls; and

Whereas, Doyle Bedell Taylor, as a young boy, spent his time helping his family on the farm in Leatherwood, West Virginia, gardening, taking care of animals, and working in the fields; and

Whereas, Doyle Bedell Taylor was drafted into the United States Army, during World War II, receiving his Basic Training at Fort Thomas, Kentucky, with qualifications including the Combat Infantryman Badge and the MKM M1 Rifle before being deployed overseas; and

Whereas, Doyle Bedell Taylor began his entry into Active Service on March 5, 1944, as a Private with Company I, 399^th Infantry; and

Whereas, Doyle Bedell Taylor, as part of his battalion, was stationed in France and Germany as part of the Rhineland Central Europe Campaign as a Rifleman, Lineman and Telephone Switchboard Operator; and

Whereas, Doyle Bedell Taylor, during his time in service, received the Good Conduct Medal, European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon, Distinguished Unit Badge, Army Occupation Medal (Germany), and the World War II Victory Ribbon; and

Whereas, Doyle Bedell Taylor was discharged from the United States Army on May 19, 1946, at the Separation Center Fort George G. Meade in Maryland; and

Whereas, Doyle Bedell Taylor returned to his home in Leatherwood, West Virginia, and married Ermel Fitzwater on May 31, 1947, and they were the parents of four children and raised their family in Fola, West Virginia; and

Whereas, Doyle Bedell Taylor worked in the coal mines for many years, starting at Widen Mines in Clay County, West Virginia, and retired from Union Carbide at Sanderson Mines in Kanawha County; and

Whereas, Doyle Bedell Taylor was a Christian and Trustee of the Fola Missionary Baptist Church; and

Whereas, Sadly, Doyle Bedell Taylor passed away on January 1, 2020, at the age of 94 years old, and was buried at the Fitzwater Cemetery, Bickmore, West Virginia with Veterans of Foreign Wars military honors; and

Whereas, For these reasons it is fitting and proper that the bridge be named in honor of U.S. Army T/5 Doyle Bedell Taylor; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name a portion of Rt. 16, otherwise known as the "Clay Highway" starting at the intersection of Rt. 16 and Fola Road, and ending at the end of the bridge on Rt. 16 in Clay County, as the "U.S. Army T/5 Doyle Bedell Taylor Memorial Bridge" and, be it

Further Resolved, That because the bridge is less than 20 feet in length, the section of road just before and just beyond the bridge shall be reserved for naming, and the Commissioner of the Division of Highways is hereby requested to erect signs at both ends of the portion of road containing bold and prominent letters proclaiming the road as "U.S. Army T/5 Doyle Bedell Taylor Memorial Bridge"; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.