HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 3

(By Delegate Westfall)

January 12, 2023

Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 18-028/00-000.6, (18A114) locally known as Frozen Camp Road Bridge carrying Frozen Camp Road over Little Mill Creek in Jackson County, the "U. S. Army Lieutenant Oscar J. Harris Memorial Bridge".

Whereas, Oscar J. Harris was born on April 29, 1942, in Arnettsville in Monongalia County, where he was raised; and

Whereas, Oscar J. Harris graduated from Morgantown High School in 1960, where he served as FFA President, then attended West Virginia University where he received a bachelors degree and a masters degree in Agricultural Education and participated in the ROTC Program; and

Whereas, Oscar J. Harris served his country in the United States Army as a Lieutenant in the Infantry Division, and earned a Purple Heart during his deployment to Vietnam and is a member of the C/3/22 Infantry Association; and

Whereas, Oscar J. Harris taught Vocational Agriculture at Ripley High School for 18 years, where he advised many state-winning and national-placing judging teams, as well as hundreds of State Farmer recipients and dozens of American Farmer recipients. He received the 1984 Southern States Cooperative Agricultural Leadership Award. His final twelve years in his career were as a school administrator, concluding as the Director of the Roane-Jackson Technical Center for nine years. He spent many years involved in the Jackson County Fair, serving terms on the Board and as President. During his retirement, he has expanded his part-time farming activities to include 400 acres and up to 40 head of cattle and has won the Jackson County, Western Conservation District Conservation Farm of the Year award. He is a member of the Jackson County Calf Pool. He has served as a supervisor for the Western Soil Conservation District for twenty years and was the 2020 recipient of the Willis Ridenour Special Achievement Award from the Little Kanawha RC&D. He and his wife Sue have been married for 55 years and have four grown children and three grandchildren they are very proud of. Additionally, he is an active member, Deacon, and adult Sunday School teacher at Mill Creek Baptist Church, which he has attended for nearly 50 years.; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate Lieutenant Oscar J. Harris 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 18-028/00-000.6 (18A114), locally known as Frozen Camp Road Bridge, carrying Frozen Camp Road over Little Mill Creek in Jackson County, the "U. S. Army Lieutenant Oscar J. Harris 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 "U. S. Army Lieutenant Oscar J. Harris Memorial Bridge"; and, be it

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