HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 105

(By Delegates  Boggs, D. Jeffries, Hartman, Diserio, Skaff, Byrd, Hornbuckle, Lovejoy, Criss, Householder and Summers)

[Introduced February 25, 2020]

Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 20-079/00-005.56 (NB) (20A500), (38.41964, -81.54456), locally known as I-79 Coopers Creek Overpass NB-SB, carrying I-79 over CR 41 in Kanawha County, the “U. S. Air Force Colonel Rishel C. Walker Memorial Bridge”.

Whereas, Rishel C. Walker was born at home in Tupper’s Creek, on September 27, 1929, the third child of Breman & Beulah Walker. He was the first person in his family to graduate from high school. He was a graduate from Elkview High School. He attended Morris Harvey and West Virginia State Colleges; and

Whereas, He joined the West Virginia Air National Guard upon graduation from high school. He was activated during the Korean War and also served in the Air Force.  He received the rank of Colonel upon retirement in 1987; and

Whereas, Colonel Rishel C. Walker died at the age of 89 on February 15, 2019. He was survived by his loving wife, Sandra R. Walker and children Jean Boggs (Husband, Delegate Brent), John Walker (Wife Rebecca), Nicole Kuhl (Husband Chris), and Natalie Gilham (Husband Tom), and grandchildren and great grandchildren; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate U.S. Air Force Colonel Rishel C. Walker 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 bridge number: 20-079/00-005.56 (NB) (20A500), (38.41964, -81.54456) locally known as I-79 Coopers Creek Overpass NB-SB, carrying I-79 over CR 41 in Kanawha County, the “U. S. Air Force Colonel Rishel C. Walker Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to erect signs containing bold and prominent letters identifying the bridge as the “U.S. Air Force Colonel Rishel C. Walker 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.