HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 36

(By Delegate Boggs)

[January 28, 2022]

Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 04-019/00-027.48 () (04A061) locally known as the Bulltown Bridge, carrying US Route 19 over Little Kanawha River in Braxton County, the “John Calvin ‘J.C.’ Baker Memorial Bridge”.

Whereas, J.C. Baker was born on July 29^th, 1903, near Gassaway, in Braxton County, West Virginia, and in his lifetime was a small farmer, coal miner, wildcat driller for natural gas and oil, Texaco Distributor for fuel and lubricants, car dealer and hotel owner; and

Whereas, J.C. quit school in the 5^th grade and started riding a horse throughout Braxton and surrounding counties buying and shipping cattle by steam train to Baltimore, Maryland; and

Whereas, J.C. had several coal mines on Little Otter mined, and then hauled coal to almost every home and business in Gassaway by horse and wagon, and started drilling for natural gas and oil in 1962; his company, J.C. Baker and Sons, Inc. holds the state record for drilling a natural gas well for over 50 continuous years; and

Whereas, While drilling a gas well on Little Otter several years ago, J.C. discovered a sand that was not named, and when given the opportunity to name it by the state of West Virginia, he named it “Braxton”; and

Whereas, J.C. Baker owned numerous farms, businesses, and car dealerships in his lifetime, continuing to support and give back to the communities in the state that he so dearly loved, including Webster Springs where he owned and operated three gas stations; and

Whereas, Another of J.C.’s examples of philanthropy, the Baker’s Island Recreation area, is made available to the town of Webster Springs through a lease agreement of $1 per year; and

Whereas, John Calvin Baker passed away at the age of 95, surrounded by his loved ones, on August 28, 1998; and

Whereas, it is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to John Calvin ‘J.C.’ Baker 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 number 04-019/00-027.48 () (04A061) locally known as the Bulltown Bridge, carrying US Route 19 over Little Kanawha River in Braxton County, the “John Calvin ‘J.C.’ Baker 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 “John Calvin ‘J.C.’ Baker Memorial Bridge”; and be it

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