COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 13

(By Delegates Perry, Pino and Staggers)

Requesting that bridge number 10-16-2.38 (10A301) on Route 16 in Fayette County, West Virginia, be named the “Thomas H. Stafford Memorial Bridge”.

    Whereas, Mr. Stafford was born on January 14, 1945 in Mt. Hope to Harold and Juanita Stafford and passed away on November 16, 2009; and

    Whereas, Mr. Stafford graduated from Mt. Hope High School in 1962, attended Marshall University and Beckley College and lived in Fayetteville; and

    Whereas, Mr. Stafford was employed by People's Life Insurance in 1967. After working as an underwriter, he was later named manager and opened People's Security, the Stafford Agency, to serve the greater Beckley community. He won numerous awards for top small agency in the company over the course of ten years; and

    Whereas, In the mid-1990s, through mergers and acquisitions, Mr. Stafford remained with the company as Regional Director and Trainer for Monumental Life Insurance Company for three years. He then reopened the Beckley Stafford Agency where he continued to work until his retirement in June 2000. After retirement from Monumental Life, he became a real estate agent for Jim Lively Century 21 and served on the Board of Directors for Pioneer Community Bank until his death; and

    Whereas, Mr. Stafford was a member of the MacDonald-Warren Lodge Number 103, A.F. & A.M. Sewell Chapter No. 24, Royal Arch Masons, and 32nd Degree Mason Scottish Rite Bodies. He was a former member and president of both the Oak Hill Jaycees and Fayette County Board of Education. Mr. Stafford also attended the Fayetteville Baptist Church; and

    Whereas, Mr. Stafford was one of the original guides for Wildwater Unlimited, hired by Jon Dragan in 1972, and worked there until 1992. His last trip down the New River was assisting then Vice President Dan Quayle and his family on their rafting trip. He was a guide for Lady Bird Johnson's trip down the river as well. Mr. Stafford rafted Cataract Canyon, Costa Rica, Green River and the Colorado River numerous times. He was also an avid antique car enthusiast, restoring and owning cars; and

    Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate a native son who significantly contributed to his community and his state; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 10-16-2.38 (10A301) on Route 16 in Fayette County, West Virginia, the “Thomas H. Stafford 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 “Thomas H. Stafford 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, his widow, Deanna Stafford, his son, Shane Stafford, his brother, Ronald Stafford, his sisters, Nancy Guin and Ginny Keeney and his sister-in-law, Faye Stafford, widow of his brother Donald Stafford.