HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 88
(By Delegates Hamilton, Poling and Stalnaker)
Requesting the Division of Highways to name the bridge located on
Corridor H in the City of Buckhannon, West Virginia at the
Main Street Exit the "Trooper J. D. "Dave" Harris Memorial
Bridge."
Whereas, Trooper J. D. "Dave" Harris of the Buckhannon
Detachment of the West Virginia State Police, died as a result of
injury received in a two vehicle accident on Route 20 just south of
Buckhannon on July 11, 1985. Trooper Harris was answering a
robbery-in-progress alarm in the Rock Cave area and collided
head-on with a pickup truck; and
Whereas, Trooper "Dave" Harris was born in Richwood, West
Virginia, on August 21, 1954, and enlisted in the Department of
Public Safety on June 5, 1978. After graduating from the State
Police Academy, he was assigned to the Buckhannon Detachment where
he remained until November 15, 1983. At that time he resigned from
the Department of Public Safety to accept employment with the
Department of Corrections as Superintendent of Salem School for
Youth. On March 15, 1984, he resigned this position and
re-enlisted in the Department and was again stationed at Buckhannon; and
Whereas, He was a very devoted church member and participated
in many community functions, being especially interested in little
league football as the assistant coach of the Buckhannon Cubs. He
once told a local sportswriter that he felt that if he could spend
enough time with the kids while they were young it might reduce the
possibility of having to deal with them professionally when they
became adults; and
Whereas, "Dave" as he was known to his friends, was an avid
sportsman. He enjoyed weight lifting and looked forward to the
annual "Turkey Bowl" football games played in Harrison County. He
played football like he did everything else, with intense desire
and determination; and
Whereas, Trooper J. D. "Dave" Harris, an unsung and fallen hero
of this state who served and protected its citizens, died before
his time and is survived by his wife, Joyce Lee Angus Harris, and
daughter, Natalie Harris Hissam, grandsons, Trey David Hissam and
Gavin Thomas Hissam, his mother, Mildred Cochran and father, Ottie
Harris and his sister Janie McDaniels and brother Tom Harris; and
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby requests the Division of Highways
to name the bridge located on Corridor H in the City of Buckhannon,
West Virginia at the Main Street Exit the "Trooper J. D. "Dave" Harris Memorial Bridge"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of
Highways is hereby requested to post signs thereon with words,
printed in bold and prominent fashion, designating the bridge as
the "Trooper J. D. "Dave" Harris Memorial Bridge"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates,
forward a certified copy of this Resolution to the Secretary of
Transportation, the Commissioner of the Division of Highways and to
the family of Trooper J. D. "Dave" Harris.