HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 62

(By Delegates Toney and Bates)

[February 14, 2022]

Requesting the Division of Highways name a portion of road, beginning at Dingess Branch Road at Liberty High School in Beckley to the unincorporated sign in Naoma in Raleigh County, as the “Raymond Jarrell, Jr., Memorial Road”.

Whereas, Raymond Jarrell, Jr., was born on February 15, 1959, to Raymond and Ruth Jarrell; and

Whereas, Raymond Jarrell, Jr., was raised by his grandparents, Carl and Sylvia Jarrell, in Raleigh County, West Virginia, and he attended Raleigh County schools; and

Whereas, Raymond Jarrell, Jr., later became an employee of Raleigh County schools as a bus driver for 28 years and also ran Jarrell Backwoods Towing for 38 years; and

Whereas, Raymond Jarrell, Jr., was a member of the Naoma Methodist Church, was a bookkeeper for the Liberty High School Raiders basketball team, and was known for philanthropic acts to benefit his community that he provided personally and through his business; and

Whereas, Raymond Jarrell, Jr., gained fame from an early age as an expert in marble games, achieving his first national championship in New Jersey in 1972 at the age of 13, for which he was recognized in the New York Times; and

Whereas, Raymond Jarrell, Jr., went on to play for the Marble King team sponsored by the famous Marble King company of Paden City, West Virginia, and eventually won the title of World Marble Champion five times in competitions held in Tinsley Green, England;

Whereas, Raymond Jarrell, Jr., passed away August 10, 2019, and was buried at Adkins Cemetery in his home community of Naoma, West Virginia; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate Raymond Jarrell, Jr., and his contributions to his community; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name a portion of road, beginning at Dingess Branch Road at Liberty High School in Beckley to the unincorporated sign in Naoma in Raleigh County, as the “Raymond Jarrell, Jr., Memorial Road”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the portion of road as the “Raymond Jarrell, Jr., Memorial Road”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs reading “Home of Raymond Jarrell, Jr., Five-Time World Marble Champion” to be placed with the present signs identifying the unincorporated community of Naoma, Raleigh County, West Virginia; 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.