SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 36

(By Senators Ferns and Plymale)

[Introduced February 15, 2016]

Requesting Division of Highways name bridge number 35-70/1-0.01 (35A141) (40.06690 – 80-69312), locally known as Washington Avenue Bridge, carrying County Route 70/1 over Interstate 70 in Ohio County, the “U. S. Army SPC5 Joseph Richard ‘Rick’ Schafer Memorial Bridge”.

Whereas, Joseph Richard “Rick” Schafer was born April 29, 1949, in Wheeling, West Virginia, the son of Joseph E. Schafer, Jr., deceased, and Betty J. Pappert Schafer; and

Whereas, Joseph Richard Schafer grew up with three sisters: Beverly Schafer Yankwitt of Port Charlotte, Florida; Paula Schafer Wood of Ocala, Florida; and Lynnette Schafer of Wheeling, West Virginia; and

Whereas, Joseph Richard Schafer enjoyed playing Little League baseball and high school football; and

Whereas, Joseph Richard Schafer graduated from Central Catholic High School in Wheeling and attended West Liberty State College; and

Whereas, Joseph Richard Schafer would cross the Washington Avenue Bridge near his home almost every day to be with friends or to meet the girlfriend he would later marry; and

Whereas, Prior to entering the U. S. Army, Joseph Richard Schafer married Vicki Dayton of Wheeling, West Virginia; and

Whereas, SPC5 Joseph Richard Schafer entered the U. S. Army on May 29, 1969, and was trained as an engineer equipment repairman; and

Whereas, SPC5 Joseph Richard Schafer was deployed to Vietnam on September 15, 1970; and

Whereas, Joseph Richard Schafer was killed in Vietnam on May 6, 1971, while driving a military vehicle involved in an accident; and

Whereas, It is appropriate to name the bridge for SPC5 Joseph Richard “Rick” Schafer who gave his life for his country; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 35-70/1-0.01 (35A141) (40.06690 – 80-69312), locally known as Washington Avenue Bridge, carrying County Route 70/1 over Interstate 70 in Ohio County, the “U. S. Army SPC5 Joseph Richard ‘Rick’ Schafer Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge as the “U. S. Army SPC5 Joseph Richard ‘Rick’ Schafer 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.