SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 42

(By Senators Mann, Carmichael, Mr. President, Baldwin, Blair, Jeffries, Prezioso, Romano, Swope, Takubo, Weld, Lindsay, Stollings, and Unger)

[Introduced February 20, 2020]

Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 32-025/00-005.38 (32A098), locally known as Hans Creek Bridge, carrying CR 25 over Hans Creek in Monroe County, the “U.S. Army CPL Richard ‘Warren’ Ellison Memorial Bridge”.

Whereas, Richard “Warren” Ellison was born December 29, 1924, at home in the “Big House” on the family farm at Hans Creek, West Virginia, the son of the late Addison Dunlap and Emma Catherine Kyle Ellison. In his early days, Warren attended a one room schoolhouse on Hans Creek, then when the family moved to Morgantown, he attended Elementary and Junior High Schools there. From Morgantown, he moved with his sister, Catherine, to the Roanoke- Salem, Virginia area and graduated in 1942 from Andrew Lewis High School in Salem, Virginia. In 1943 he married the love of his life, Juliet “Judy” Ellen Kuhn of Huntington, West Virginia; and

Whereas, Warren was inducted into the U.S. Army in September of 1944. Warren served in the Pacific Theatre during World War II on Okinawa and in the Philippines until he was Honorably Discharged in November of 1946, the rank of corporal; and

Whereas, Warren furthered his education in 1947 in agriculture at West Virginia University. He was a member of the WV Farm Bureau since 1959, serving as secretary and treasurer.  He was a member and elder of the Centerville Presbyterian Church at Greenville, West Virginia.  He was a director and Chairman of the Board of the Bank of Greenville and served as a supervisor for the Greenbrier Valley Soil Conservation District for eight years and for one term as county committeeman for the Farmer’s Home Administration. Part of his involvement with the Extension was as a 4-H Leader for the Handy Hans 4-H Club for many years, and his other community involvement was extensive.  Warren had dedicated his entire life to farming, his family, and helping others. He, along with his son Bert, has owned and operated the family farm on Hans Creek, West Virginia, that was designated a “Bicentennial Farm” in 1988 with emphasis on beef cattle production and Holstein heifer calves as dairy herd replacements. Warren was the sixth-generation farm owner. A long time ago, as a third grader in a city school, Warren’s teacher asked the class, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” Warren’s answer then without a moment’s hesitation was, “A Farmer!”, and the rest was history; and

Whereas, Richard “Warren” Ellison, age 94, of “Hans Creek”, Greenville, West Virginia, passed away on Tuesday, March 12, 2019 at Springfield Center at Lindside, West Virginia; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate U.S. Army CPL Richard “Warren” Ellison 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 bridge number 32-025/00-005.38 (32A098), locally known as Hans Creek Bridge, carrying CR 25 over Hans Creek in Monroe county the “U.S. Army CPL Richard ‘Warren’ Ellison Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge as the “U.S. Army CPL Richard ‘Warren’ Ellison 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.