HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 30

(By Delegates Marcum, Eldridge, Bates, Blair, Boggs, Border, Caputo, Faircloth, Ferro, Hamilton, Hartman, Hicks, Hill, Hornbuckle, Ihle, Kessinger, Longstreth, Lynch, Miley, Moore, Morgan, Moye, Perry, Pethtel, R. Phillips, Reynolds, Rodighiero, P. Smith, R. Smith, Sponaugle, Stansbury, Westfall and H. K. White)

Requesting that bridge number 30-3/5-13.59 (30A016) on County Route 3/5 in Mingo County, West Virginia, locally known as the Bailey Branch Pony Truss, be named "The Baisden Family Memorial Bridge."

            Whereas, Landen Baisden, Sr. was born on January 5, 1928 and passed away on October 28, 2011. Fannie Baisden was born on March 5, 1926 and passed away on March 18, 2011. Landen and Fannie Baisden shared their life together for 65 years in Dingess, West Virginia and had six children: Myrtle Preece, Landen Baisden, James Ed Baisden, Gary Baisden, Bruce Baisden and a newborn son who passed away after only a few short days of life, Bobby Lee Baisden. They also had twenty grandchildren and thirty-five great-grandchildren at the time of their deaths; and

            Whereas, Landen Baisden, Sr. was a coal miner before becoming disabled in a mining accident in 1959, when he was 32, that left him paralyzed. After being confined to a wheelchair, he took up several hobbies: Repairing children’s bicycles, collecting baseball cards and bee keeping. He was an avid Cincinnati Reds fan and a member of the Mt. Hope Freewill Baptist Church. He loved spending time with his family and having people over to have church with him. He always gave great advice and no one ever heard him say a bad word about anyone; and

            Whereas, Fannie Baisden was a stay-at-home mother and took care of her husband, Landen. She babysat all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She cooked dinner every Sunday for the entire family. Her hobbies were collecting whatnots and Barbie dolls. She attended church at the Mt. Hope Freewill Baptist; and

            Whereas, Katherine Baisden was born September 10, 1952 and left this world on February 2, 1992. She was married to Landen Baisden, Jr., and lived in Dingess. Together they had seven children: Tammy Runyon, Landen Baisden III, Jennifer Copley, Jason Baisden, Sarah Queen, Matthew Baisden and Amanda Kolkedy, and a stepdaughter, Machelle McCormick. Katherine Baisden loved children and would have loved the twenty grandchildren that there are now. She was able to only meet two of them before her death. She was a first grade teacher and her goal was that no student leave her classroom without being able to read. An award is given out in her honor every year at the Dingess Elementary School. She was also a Sunday school teacher and a church member where she sang in a gospel group and played piano; and

            Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate these three individuals who meant so much to their family and their community; therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

            That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 30-3/5-13.59 (30A016) on County Route 3/5 in Mingo County, West Virginia, "The Baisden Family Memorial Bridge;" and, be it

            Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of Highways is hereby requested to erect signs at both ends of the bridge containing bold and prominent letters proclaiming the bridge "The Baisden Family Memorial Bridge;" and, be it

            Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways, the children of Fannie and Landen Baisden, Sr., and the children of Katherine Baisden.