SENATE RESOLUTION 30

(By Senators Baldwin, Woodrum, Blair (Mr. President), Azinger, Beach, Boley, Caputo, Clements, Grady, Hamilton, Ihlenfeld, Jeffries, Karnes, Lindsay, Maroney, Martin, Maynard, Nelson, Phillips, Plymale, Roberts, Romano, Rucker, Smith, Stollings, Stover, Swope, Sypolt, Takubo, Tarr, Trump, Unger, Weld, and Woelfel)

[Introduced March 25, 2021]

Memorializing the life of the Honorable Mr. Shirley Dean Love, husband, father, broadcast pioneer, businessman, statesman, former member of the West Virginia Senate, former member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, and dedicated public servant.

Whereas, The Honorable Shirley Dean Love was born on May 15, 1933, the son of Earl Clinton and Winona May Hall Love; and

Whereas, The Honorable Shirley Dean Love was a lifelong resident of Fayette County and a faithful member of Oak Hill United Methodist Church, where he displayed his talented voice in the choir beginning at eight years of age; and

Whereas, The Honorable Shirley Dean Love was educated in the public schools of Fayette County, and graduated from Collins High School in 1952; and

Whereas, The Honorable Shirley Dean Love’s broadcasting career at WOAY spanned from 1954 to 1997, and landed him in the West Virginia Broadcasters Hall of Fame. His pleasant, charming, and engaging demeanor and unique voice was instantly recognizable throughout southern West Virginia and beyond; and

Whereas, The Honorable Shirley Dean Love began his broadcasting career in radio, where he hosted Juke Box Review for more than 20 years, West Virginia Bandstand, Friday Night Barn Dance, the West Virginia Jamboree, and was the voice of Oak Hill High School football and basketball games for nearly four decades; and

Whereas, The Honorable Shirley Dean Love rose to fame while anchoring Saturday Night Wrestling on WOAY-TV, or as he liked to say, “rasslin”, which would eventually pave the way to a career in politics; and

Whereas, The Honorable Shirley Dean Love was appointed to the West Virginia Senate on August 8, 1994, and was elected on November 5, 1994, and reelected in 1996, 2000, and 2004, serving on the Committees on Confirmations (Chair), Agriculture, Enrolled Bills, Finance, Labor, Natural Resources, and Transportation and Infrastructure. He was elected eight times as a Delegate to the Democratic National Convention; and

Whereas, The Honorable Shirley Dean Love was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates in 2016, where he served one term; and

Whereas, The Honorable Shirley Dean Love was a beloved little league coach in the community, where he taught his youthful players as much about life and leadership as he did about baseball; and

Whereas, Sadly, the Honorable Shirley Dean Love passed away on July 17, 2020, bringing an end to a colorful life of public service and leaving behind a host of family and friends, all of whom will miss him dearly, including his beloved wife of 68 years, Audrey Love; two sons, James “Jimmy” Love, IV, and Dr. Brian Stephen Love (deceased); a daughter, Christie Love and spouse, Judy Fitzgerald; grandchildren, James Love, V, and companion Mary Nell, and also Sarah Love, the mother of James’ children, Matthew Love (Allison), Robert Love (Amanda), Benjamin Love (Tiffany), Mary Beth Knight (Pete), and Michael Love and companion Lauren Satyshur; and 11 great grandchildren; and

Whereas, It is fitting that we pay tribute to the life and legacy of the Honorable Shirley Dean Love, a man whose contributions to the state of West Virginia will be felt by many generations to come, and whose spirit will resound throughout the hills of West Virginia forever; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby memorializes the life of the Honorable Mr. Shirley Dean Love, husband, father, broadcast pioneer, businessman, statesman, former member of the West Virginia Senate, former member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, and dedicated public servant; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Senate extends its sincere condolences to the family of the Honorable Shirley Dean Love on his passing; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the family of the Honorable Shirley Dean Love.