HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 20

(By Delegates Steele, J. Pack,
Toney, Gearheart, Smith, Bates, Kessinger, Haynes, Cooper and Fast)

[Introduced March 2, 2021]

Requesting the Division of Highways to name Slab Fork Road, beginning near the Lester Highway and proceeding along County State Route 34 to its end at the Coalfield Expressway in Raleigh County, the “Bill Withers Memorial Road”.

Whereas, Bill Withers was born July 4, 1938, and grew up in Slab Fork, West Virginia, in the final years of the Great Depression. He was the youngest of six kids and struggled to fit in, largely due to his speech impediment. He joined the Navy after high school and worked as a milkman in Santa Clara County, California, after he left the service. He later worked at an aircraft-parts factory. It was during his time in the service that he developed an interest in singing and songwriting. He bought a cheap guitar at a pawn shop, taught himself to play, and began writing songs between shifts at the factory. He recorded an album at Sussex Records with producer Booker T. Jones, bassist Donald “Duck” Dunn, and Stephen Stills on guitar. One of the first songs they cut was “Ain’t No Sunshine”. The album 1971’s “Just As I Am”, became an enormous hit and turned Bill Withers into a star overnight. He followed it up with 1972’s “Still Bill”, which became an even bigger hit thanks to the leadoff single, “Lean on Me”. Bill had nine Grammy nominations, was inducted into the 2007 Grammy Hall of Fame for “Lean on Me”. On being inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame he said, “I am from this place, and I am of this place.” In 2015, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  He has left a lasting impression on American music. His final album was 1985’s Watching You Watching Me. One of West Virginia’s most successful songwriters, his career spanned four decades, and his music continues to influence today’s soul and hip-hop. He passed on April 3, 2020; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate Bill Withers 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 Slab Fork Road, beginning near the Lester Highway and proceeding along County State Route 34 to its end at the Coalfield Expressway in Raleigh County, the “Bill Withers 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 “Bill Withers Memorial Road”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a copy of this resolution to the commissioner of the Division of Highways.