HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 117

(By Delegates Brown, Guthrie, Hatfield, Hunt, Skaff, Wells and Nelson)

Requesting that bridge number 20-60/18-0.04 on Route 60/18 in Belle, Kanawha County, West Virginia be named the “Larry K. Conley Memorial Bridge.”

    Whereas, Larry K. Conley was born on November 20, 1940, in Dupont City to George and Madeline Groah Conley and passed away on February 13, 2011; and

    Whereas, Larry K. Conley joined the Town of Belle Police Department in 1964 at the age of twenty-three. He was promoted to Chief the following year and served on the force until his retirement in 1991. He was an active member of the Fraternal Order of Police and represented state law enforcement in many national conferences and meetings. He also worked with state legislative leaders in law enforcement initiatives throughout the state; and

    Whereas, Larry K. Conley successfully ran for City Council in 1992 and two years later was elected Mayor. He served the town in that capacity for sixteen years, until his death. During his term as Mayor he actively served on many committees and boards throughout the Kanawha Valley, including the Regional Intergovernmental Council, Regional Development Authority, West Virginia Municipal League, Upper Kanawha Valley Mayors’ Association, Kanawha County Public Safety Grant Committee, Citizens Action Committee of Belle, Kanawha County Democratic Executive Committee and Thunder in the Mountains; and

    Whereas, Larry K. Conley was the Kanawha County Democrat of the Year in 2003, an honor he was particularly proud of. He dedicated forty-seven years of his life serving the town of Belle, and he did so with great joy and enthusiasm. He was by definition a true public servant; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 20-60/18-0.04 on Route 60/18 in Belle, Kanawha County, West Virginia the “Larry K. Conley 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 “Larry K. Conley 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 and the family of Larry K. Conley, his wife, Barbara Conley; daughters, Melody Pendergrass and her husband, Greg, of Pinch and Michele Higginbotham and her husband, Brian, of Shrewsbury; sisters, Patricia Hicks of Belle and Sharon Fleming of Parkersburg; grandchildren, Emma Pendergrass and Ethan Higginbotham; and lifelong friend, Ralph Neil.