HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 13

(By Delegates Frazier, Gearheart and Ellington)

Requesting the Maple Acres Road in Mercer County, West Virginia, beginning at the intersection of Route 20 and the Maple Acres Road 19/33 in the community of New Hope and proceeding on the Maple Acres Road through Glenwood past the Elks Country Club toward Route 460 and ending at the intersection with Route 123 West, be named the “Delegate Mike Porter Memorial Road.”

    Whereas, The Honorable Thomas Michael "Mike" Porter was born May 10, 1941 in Lashmeet, West Virginia, the son of the late Robert Jackson “Jack” Porter and Mary Magdalene "Maggie" Mills Porter. He was a 1959 graduate of Matoaka High School and attended Concord University and West Virginia Institute of Technology. Mike was the owner-operator of Associated Construction & Trucking, Inc., now known as the Thomas M. Porter Co. in Princeton. He attended Johnston's Chapel Baptist Church in Princeton and was a U. S. Army veteran. Mike was an excellent race car driver and was a participant in the Busch Grand National Racing Circuit winning over one hundred races in the late model stock division. He also broke the speed record at Daytona International Speedway; and

    Whereas, Thomas Michael "Mike" Porter died on September 27, 2010, at Charleston Area Medical Center in Charleston, West Virginia. He was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates in 2004, 2006 and 2008 and was a current candidate to again represent the people of Mercer County. As a delegate he served on the Government Organization Committee, of which he was the current Minority Vice Chair, on the committee on Roads and Transportation, the Veterans Affairs Committee, of which he was the current Minority Vice Chair, the Homeland Security Committee and as a member of the Legislative Intern Committee; and

    Whereas, Thomas Michael "Mike" Porter is survived by his wife of forty-eight years, Evelyn "Ruth" Hedrick Porter of Princeton; one son Thomas Michael "Mikey" Porter, Jr. and wife Sharon of Princeton; two grandchildren, Jacob Porter and Jared Porter, both of Princeton and one sister, Patty Porter Grace of Princeton. His sister, Jane Porter Childers preceded him in death; and

    Whereas, Thomas Michael "Mike" Porter was a committed and respected public servant and worked tirelessly on many issues for the benefit of the citizens of Mercer county and was a strong proponent of the coal industry. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother who died in the service to his community, county and state and will be missed by all who knew him; and

     Whereas, The life of Thomas Michael "Mike" Porter shall be recognized and honored; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name Maple Acres Road in Mercer County, West Virginia, beginning at the intersection of Route 20 and the Maple Acres Road 19/33 in the community of New Hope and proceeding on the Maple Acres Road through Glenwood past the Elks Country Club toward Route 460 and ending at the intersection with Route 123 West, be named the “Delegate Mike Porter Memorial Road.”; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of Highways is hereby requested to cause to be fabricated signs to be erected at each entryway of the road, containing bold and prominent letters proclaiming the road to be named the ““Delegate Mike Porter Memorial Road”; 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 surviving family of Delegate Thomas Michael "Mike" Porter.