HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NUMBER

(By Delegates Sponaugle, A. Evans, Campbell and Hartman)

[Introduced ]

Requesting the Division of Highways to name bridge number 36-33-44.10 (36A103) (latitude 38.63100, longitude -79.24376), locally known as the Brandywine Bridge, carrying U.S. Route 33 over the South Fork South Branch of the Potomac River in Pendleton County, the "WVSP Tpr. Phillip S. Kesner Memorial Bridge".

Whereas, Phillip S. Kesner was born in Pendleton County, WV, on September 29, 1956, the son of Orlando and Mary Kesner; and

Whereas, Phillip S. Kesner graduated from Franklin High School in 1974 and attended West Virginia Institute of Technology upon a football scholarship awarded to him due to his athletic prowess and leadership; and

Whereas, Phillip S. Kesner then was accepted into the West Virginia State Police Academy and graduated on May 17, 1977; and

Whereas, following his graduation, Trooper Kesner was stationed at the Moundsville Detachment of the West Virginia State Police in Marshall County, West Virginia; and

Whereas, In 1979, Tpr. Kesner learned of a breakout at the State Penitentiary in Moundsville and, though he was not on duty at the time and was driving with his wife in their own vehicle, Tpr. Kesner responded to the scene of the breakout while it was in progress; and

Whereas, Tpr. Kesner encountered the escaping inmates outside of the prison and they attempted to overpower him and steal his vehicle, but Tpr. Kesner fought off the armed inmates who tried to drag him and his wife from the vehicle; and

Whereas, Despite being shot in the chest at close range, Tpr. Kesner continued to fight the escape of the prison inmates and engaged them in a gun battle; and

Whereas; Tpr. Phillip S. Kesner was fatally injured and made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the State and the people of West Virginia on November 7, 1979, at the age of just twenty-three; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate his service to his community and state; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 36-33-44.10 (36A103) (latitude 38.63100, longitude -79.24376), locally known as the Brandywine Bridge, carrying U.S. Route 33 over the South Fork South Branch of the Potomac River in Pendleton County, the "WVSP Tpr. Phillip S. Kesner Memorial Bridge"; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge as the "WVSP Tpr. Phillip S. Kesner Memorial Bridge"; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates, forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways and to the surviving members of his family.