HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 71

(By Delegate Wells)

Requesting that Turnpike bridge number 20-77-86.57 (20A619), on U. S. I-77, crossing over County Route 77/1, and known as the Fields Creek Bridge, near Chelyan, West Virginia, be named the “Army Private William C. Bias Memorial Bridge”.

    Whereas, William Cecil Bias was born February 7, 1918, the son of Gordon and Virgie Bias of Chelyan, Kanawha County, West Virginia; and

    Whereas, William Cecil Bias was married to Clementine Cruikshank of Cedar Grove, West Virginia on March 15, 1940; and

    Whereas, William Cecil Bias and his wife had a daughter, Nancy Vasburg, who currently lives in Niagara Falls, New York; and

    Whereas, William Cecil Bias has several other surviving relatives, including a brother, David Bias, living in Parkersburg, West Virginia, and nieces and nephews living in Frazier’s Bottom, West Virginia and in the area of Charleston, West Virginia; and

    Whereas, William Cecil Bias enlisted in the United States Army in 1944 and was serving with the 60th Infantry, 9th Division in Europe when he was killed in action January 10, 1945, during the Battle of the Bulge; and

    Whereas, The body of Army Private William C. Bias is buried in Plot E, Row 12, Grave 73, Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, Henri-Chapelle, Belgium; and

    Whereas, It is fitting that an appropriate memorial for this World War II soldier be established in the area where he was raised among friends and family; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name Turnpike bridge number 20-77-86.57 (20A619), on U. S. I-77, crossing over County Route 77/1, and known as the Fields Creek Bridge, near Chelyan, West Virginia, the “Army Private William C. Bias 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 “Army Private William C. Bias 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; to Nancy Vasburg, 1880 Tuscarona Road, Niagara Fall, NY 14304; and to Mrs. Marlene V. Price, 701 Garvin Avenue, Apartment 305, Charleston, WV.