SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 20

(By Senators Stollings and Phillips)

[Introduced January 25, 2022]

Requesting the Division of Highways name a portion of WV17, beginning at (38.05727) (-81.82520), and ending at (38.05264) (-81.83461), in Madison, Boone County, the “U.S. Air Force LT COL Robert J. Hill Memorial Road”.

Whereas, Robert J. Hill was born September 24, 1936, son of the late Wallace Alvin Hill and Mattie Varney Hill. Robert grew up in Boone County, West Virginia in an area known as the North Fork of Big Creek; and

Whereas, Robert J. Hill graduated in 1953 from Scott High School. He attended Marshall University, and after two years, he received an emergency teacher certificate which allowed him to teach at a two-room public school at the North Fork of Big Creek; and

Whereas, Robert J. Hill had an Uncle Edsel Carl Varney who was a World War II Navy pilot [Pacific Theatre], then a local pilot, and who was a major influence in his life. Although his parents wanted him to become a teacher, Robert J. Hill was enthralled with the idea and strongly desired to become a pilot from his awareness of his Uncle Varney’s history; and

Whereas, On September 27, 1956, LT COL Robert J. Hill entered the United States Air Force and in 1958, he became a commissioned officer. LT COL Robert J. Hill’s eyesight would prohibit him from becoming a pilot, so instead he became a navigator that would define his Air Force career; and

Whereas, In his over 22 years of Air Force service, LT COL Robert J. Hill would spend most that time in the Strategic Air Command [SAC], where he witnessed many new innovations. Trained in electronic warfare and electronic counter measures equipment, his initial assignment was a B-52; and

Whereas, In 1963, LT COL Robert J. Hill was assigned to a B-58, often used for reconnaissance using aerial photography which he had been trained to perform. On March 27, 1964, his aircraft was assigned to fly over the Alaskan earthquake area to photograph the damage. Those photographs were rapidly developed and provided to the Department of Defense and to President Lyndon B. Johnson. In September 1967, he received a call from President Johnson requesting another mission to photograph the damage of Hurricane Beulah; and

Whereas, From 1969-1970, LT COL Robert J. Hill was reassigned to become a Navigator qualified in the air refueling aircraft, the KC-135. In 1972, LT COL Robert J. Hill was assigned to Maxwell Air Force Base to participate in the Air Force’s Command Staff College and concurrently entered Troy State University, where, in 1973, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree; and

Whereas, With his exemplary navigator skills, the Air Force was engaging with the linked electronic radar bombing site technology. From 1973-1974, LT COL Robert J. Hill completed the Skyport training and became an active Combat Controller in Ubon, Thailand in support of the Vietnam conflict. In late 1974, having exemplary electronic radar bombing site technology, LT COL Robert J. Hill would soon become the Operations Officer, and then Detachment Commander; and

Whereas, On October 31, 1978, LT COL Robert J. Hill retired from the United States Air Force with over 22 years of service. As a result of his service with the Strategic Air Command and other assignments involving secret missions, top secret equipment, and his high security clearance, LT COL Robert J. Hill's full history can never be told; and

Whereas, Many service awards bestowed upon LT COL Robert J. Hill were not allowed public view. However, many of his awards are known: December 15, 1958-January 10, 1963: Air Force Commendation Medal; March 28-29, 1964: The Air Medal [Alaska Earthquake]; January 25, 1963-November 15,1969: Air Force Commendation Medal; First Oak Leaf Cluster [meritorious service]; March 15, 1971-July 7, 1972: The Air Metal; First Oak Leaf Cluster; January 30, 1977-October 31, 1978: Air Force Commendation Medal; Second Oak Leaf Cluster [meritorious service]; the Vietnam Service, and the Armed Services Expeditionary Medals; and

Whereas, In 1958, LT COL Robert J. Hill married his sweetheart, Mary Frances Craddock, and they have two children, Susan Hill Keller and Steven A. Hill; and

Whereas, Following retirement in 1978, LT COL Robert J. Hill remained in Bismarck, North Dakota until 1989 when he and his family returned to Boone County; and

Whereas, LT COL Robert J. Hill was a member of two Madison-based Boone County veterans organizations: the American Legion, Post 87 and the VFW, Post 5578; and

Whereas, LT COL Robert J. Hill died on November 13, 2020, at his home in Jeffrey; he was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Frances Craddock Hill. He is survived by his daughter, Susan Keller (Terry) of Grayson, KY; son, Steven A. Hill of Ramage, two grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and sister, Linda Marcum; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate U.S. Air Force LT COL Robert J. Hill and his 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 a portion of WV17, beginning at (38.05727) (-81.82520), and ending at (38.05264) (-81.83461), in Madison, Boone County, the “U.S. Air Force LT COL Robert J. Hill Memorial Road”; 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 “U.S. Air Force LT COL Robert J. Hill Memorial Road”; 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.