HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 38
(By Delegates Bridges, Smith, Holstein, Horst, Maynard, Dean, Paynter, Mazzocchi, Hanna, Wamsley, and Longanacre)
[January 28, 2022]
Requesting the Division of Highways name a bridge bearing bridge number 23-44-9.12 on Route 44 in Logan County, West Virginia, the “Warrant Officer Dale Shaheen and U. S. Army Pvt George H. Hooker Memorial Bridge”.
Whereas, Warrant Officer Dale Shaheen was born to John and Annie Shaheen on May 19, 1925 in Buffalo Creek, Logan County. During his school years he worked at his parent’s grocery store. He graduated from Logan High School; and
Whereas, Warrant Officer Dale Shaheen enlisted in the U. S. Army in 1943 and on September 9, 1943 qualified for preactivation as a cadet in the Air Crew; and
Whereas, Warrant Officer Dale Shaheen attended Flight School and became a pilot of a B-25 bomber; and
Whereas, Following his discharge in 1946 Warrant Officer Dale Shaheen opened both a grocery store and a beer distributorship in Omar; and
Whereas, Warrant Officer Dale Shaheen was a pilot for the Middle East Airlines for two years beginning in 1958; and
Whereas, From 1960 until retirement, Warrant Officer Dale Shaheen successfully operated a Stewart’s Root Beer drive-in and a Mary Carter Paint store in Williamson; and
Whereas, In his spare time Warrant Officer Dale Shaheen’s passions were flying his twin engine Beechcraft airplane and giving his time and energy to the community; and
Whereas, Warrant Officer Dale Shaheen died of cancer on March 3, 1996 and his ashes were buried at the Forest Lawn Cemetery where his parents were laid to rest; and
Whereas, Pvt George H. Hooker was born in October 1917 in Dunlow, West Virginia; and
Whereas, Pvt. Hooker enlisted in the Army on August 7, 1942, in Huntington, West Virginia to serve his country and his state during World War II; and
Whereas, Pvt. Hooker was a Rifleman during his service in the Army and he was assigned to the 376th Field Artillery Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division and was involved in battles in Italy where he received a Purple Heart posthumously; and
Whereas, Pvt. Hooker was employed as mine timberman prior to enlisting in the service and Pvt. Hooker was well known among the community for his baseball talents; and
Whereas, Pvt. Hooker was killed in combat on July 11, 1943, during the invasion of Sicily where Pvt. Hooker was deployed as a paratrooper; and
Whereas, Pvt. Hooker was laid to rest at Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Nettuno, Italy; and
Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate both Warrant Officer Dale Shaheen and U. S. Army Pvt George H. Hooker and their contributions to our state and country; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Division of Highways name a bridge bearing bridge number 23-44-9.12 on Route 44 in Logan County, West Virginia, the “Warrant Officer Dale Shaheen and U. S. Army Pvt George H. Hooker Memorial Bridge”; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to replace the existing signs bearing the previous memorial bridge name, and have made and be placed in their stead signs identifying the bridge as the “Warrant Officer Dale Shaheen and U. S. Army Pvt George H. Hooker 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, as well as to the families of Warrant Officer Dale Shaheen and U. S. Army Pvt George H. Hooker.