HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 28

(By Delegates Reed, Worrell, Barrett, Hardy, Forsht and Horst)

[Introduced March 9, 2021]

Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 02-009/00-002.54 (02A176), locally known as Johnsontown Bridge, carrying WV Route 9 over Tilhance Creek in Berkeley County, the “Paul J. Hofe Memorial Bridge”.

Whereas, Paul J. Hofe was born on April 16, 1936, at Little Orleans in Allegany County Maryland; and

Whereas, Paul J. Hofe served dutifully in the United States Army at the rank of Private; and

Whereas, Following his military service, Paul J. Hofe became a resident of Berkeley County, West Virginia, and began a career with the Internal Revenue Service that lasted 35 years; and

Whereas, In 1969, Paul J. Hofe started his own company, Hofe’s Well Drilling, and thus embarked upon a second career through which he would become known to many people throughout the area for the next 50 years; and

Whereas, Access to clean drinking water became a passion for him, and Paul J. Hofe participated in many professional associations and water-related programs including the National Groundwater Association and the South Atlantic Well Driller Jubilee, in which he also served as director and president. He also participated actively in the development of well regulations which were eventually promulgated by the state health department; and

Whereas, Paul J. Hofe often donated his time and resources to drill wells for charitable organizations, including the Poor House Farm Park, Berkeley County Youth Fair, and several churches in the Eastern Panhandle. He was also known to drill wells at his own expense for families without the financial means to pay for the service and, through his company, he sponsored the Hedgesville Little League and the baseball and basketball teams for Hedgesville High School; and

Whereas, Paul J. Hofe’s service to his community ended on March 5, 2019, when he passed away after a battle with Alzheimer’s Disease; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate Paul J. Hofe and his contributions to our state and country; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 02-009/00-002.54  (02A176), locally known as Johnsontown Bridge, carrying WV Route 9 over Tilhance Creek in Berkeley County, the “Paul J. Hofe Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge as the “Paul J. Hofe Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

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