SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 42

(By Delegate Shamblin)

[February 17, 2025; Referred
to the committee on Energy and Public Works
then Rules]

Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 00-005.51(20A561), locally known as Rocky Fork Bridge, carrying County Route 622 over Rocky Fork Creek in Kanawha County, the "U. S. Army Corporal Kenneth H. Tinsley Memorial Bridge".

Whereas, Corporal Kenneth H. Tinsley was born on April 5, 1931, in Charleston, West Virginia to Herbert C. and Lula M. Tinsley; and

Whereas, Corporal Tinsley was married to Pearlie Tinsley for 60 years and had three children: Vicki Good, Jimmy Tinsley, and Scotty Tinsley; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; and two great-great-great grandchildren; and

Whereas, Corporal Tinsley served in the Korean Conflict from 1951 to 1953, where his outfit was aligned with the Air Force while building Kimpo Air Base; and

Whereas, in April 1953 the U.S. Far East Command made an offer of $100,000 for the first MiG-15 delivered intact. No enemy pilot took advantage of this offer, and when the Korean truce went into effect on July 27, 1953, the U.S. still had not acquired a MiG-15 for flight-testing. Corporal Tinsley was on duty at Kimpo Air Force Base when Senior Lieutenant No Kum-Sok of the North Korean Air Force, who had long before decided to escape to South Korea flew a Russian MiG-15 out of North Korea and landed at Kimpo Airforce Base. Only then did the young pilot learned of the $100,000 reward. This MiG is now at Wright-Patterson Air Base in Dayton, Ohio; and

Whereas, Corporal Tinsley went on to work for Bell Lines and Smith Transfer for 34.5 years before retiring and was a member of the Teamsters Local 175; and

Whereas, Corporal Tinsley was a member of the West Virginia Antique Gas Engine and Tractor Association. He loved his old John Deere two-cylinder tractors; and

Whereas, Corporal Tinsley died on Monday, September 14, 2018, at Clark's Christian Care in East Bank; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate Corporal Kenneth H. Tinsley and his/her 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 00-005.51(20A561), locally known as Rocky Fork Bridge, carrying County Route 622 over Rocky Fork Creek in Kanawha County, the "U. S. Army Corporal Kenneth H. Tinsley 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 Corporal Kenneth H. Tinsley Memorial Bridge"; and, be it

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