HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 6

(By Delegates Pack, Toney, Bates and Cooper)

[Introduced January 10, 2020]

Requesting the Division of Highways to name a portion of road locally known as the U. S. 19 By-Pass, at Beckley, in Raleigh County, West Virginia, the “Clarence Watson Meadows Memorial Boulevard”.

Whereas, Clarence Watson Meadows (February 11, 1904-September 12, 1961) was the 22nd Governor of West Virginia; and

Whereas, Clarence Watson Meadows was born in Beckley, West Virginia.  Growing up he enjoyed entertaining others as a musician and actor in community productions; and

Whereas, Governor Meadows graduated from Washington and Lee University and then received a law degree in 1927 from the University of Alabama. After considering becoming a Baptist minister, he chose to enter politics. His interest in acting carried over to his adult life. He established Beckley’s Little Theater and men’s chorus. Governor Meadows served as a Sunday school teacher and Baptist deacon; and

Whereas, After initial work in a law firm in Birmingham Governor Meadows returned to Beckley and established his own practice. In 1930, he was elected as a Democrat to the West Virginia House of Delegates. After serving one term he was elected prosecuting attorney in his home county; and

Whereas, In 1934, Meadows married Nancy Massie of Clifton Forge, Virginia.  The couple had four daughters; and

Whereas, Governor Meadows became state attorney general in 1936 and was reelected in 1940. In May 1942, he was appointed to fill the vacant Tenth Circuit judgeship, to which he won election to a full term in 1943. He entered the 1944 Democratic gubernatorial primary, winning 52 of the 55 counties, and won in the general election. He was described in the press as a conscientious, honest and trustworthy public official; and

Whereas, Interested in improving public schools, Governor Meadows introduced legislation to increase pay for teachers and commissioned a broad study of the state’s school system. The resulting report called for increased funding for education by a more equitable statewide assessment of the property taxes that supplied the bulk of education funds; and

Whereas, In 1947 Governor Meadows, recognizing the importance of improving transportation, dedicated Charleston’s Kanawha Airport (now Yeager Airport). A year later, he proposed a $50 million ‘‘farm-to-market’’ road bond issue, which was approved by voters. He called for the construction of a state office building, now known as Building Number 3, to replace scattered space being rented by the state. This building was designed by Cass Gilbert Jr., the son of the original Capitol architect. In addition, Governor Meadows recommended higher pay for all state employees; and

Whereas, After leaving office in 1949, Meadows practiced law in Charleston and pursued investment interest. .Later, he moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he practiced law and engaged in real estate development; and

Whereas, In August 1961, Governor Meadows died at age 57 due to a combination of heart and kidney problems. He was buried in Clifton Forge, Virginia, but a year later the body was reinterred in Beckley’s Wildwood Cemetery; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate former Governor Clarence Watson Meadows and his contributions to the state and country; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name a portion of road locally known as the U. S. 19 By-Pass, at Beckley, in Raleigh County, West Virginia, the “Clarence Watson Meadows Memorial Boulevard”; and be it

Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs at both ends identifying the portion of road as the “Clarence Watson Meadows Memorial Boulevard”; 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.