HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 140

         (By Delegates (Manchin, Iaquinta, Fragale,

         Mr. Speaker, Mr. Miley), Hamrick, Caputo

         and Longstreth

Requesting that the Division of Highways name bridge number 17-24/1-5.79 (17A321), which crosses Simpson Creek, at 0.01 miles west of County Route 24, between the Meadowbrook Mall and the Pete Dye Golf Course, at Bridgeport, Harrison County, West Virginia, the “James D. LaRosa Memorial Bridge”.

    Whereas, James D. LaRosa was born December 22, 1926, to James and Emilia (Cava) LaRosa. Jim, one of three children, was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Catherine Rhoda and his brother, Virgil Benito LaRosa; and

    Whereas, James D. LaRosa married Catherine Louise Endres from Shinnston, West Virginia, who preceded him in death. He is survived by one son, James Joseph LaRosa and his wife, Leigh Ann of Bridgeport, West Virginia and three grandchildren, Lauren Louise of Bridgeport, West Virginia, Natalie Nicole of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and James Lee, of Bridgeport, West Virginia. Jim was also preceded in death by his second wife, Lois May LaRosa; and

    Whereas, James D. LaRosa graduated from Washington Irving High School in Clarksburg, West Virginia, in 1944. Jim graduated from West Virginia University in 1948 with a Degree in Business Administration. In 1949 he went to work with his father, who had started a small surface mining company, LaRosa Fuel Company, and spent his early entrepreneurial years in Upshur, Randolph, Barbour and Harrison Counties. Jim assumed the position of President of LaRosa Fuel Company at the age of 35; and

    Whereas, During his years in the coal mining business he became committed to values taught to him by his mother and father and became vested in enhancing and improving quality of life for his family and his hometown. In the 1970's vision and perseverance led him to be involved in various entrepreneurial and philanthropic endeavors; and

    Whereas, After successfully developing multiple coal properties throughout the area, he began a relationship with the West Virginia University Hospital by establishing the James and Emilia Surgical and Research Endowment Fund. He also built and donated the first Medivac Heliport Facility at the Medical Center; and

    Whereas, While maintaining his focus on his hometown, he opened a new office complex in Nutter Fort, West Virginia, which now houses the Harrison County 911 Center. At the same time he began development of the entire U. S. Rt. 50 – I-79 interchange known as Bridgeport Hill. Moving over 4.5 million yards of material enabled him to develop the Eastpointe Shopping Center complex, enabling an entire city to maintain its' job and tax base that was so crucially critical to its' vitality. At the same time the North East Quadrant of the interchange was developed, which currently supports multiple businesses including a hotel, office complex, multiple restaurant operations and other retail businesses. Located in the North West Quadrant of the interchange, Jim created acreage that now houses the Harrison County Business Park and the Summit Park Recreational Complex, which he donated after construction was complete; and

    Whereas, During this period James D. Larosa also served on Boards of Directors of various organizations such as the Clarksburg Chamber of Commerce, Lowndes Bank and The West Virginia Coal and Advisory Commission, and he served on the original board of the West Virginia Surface Mining and Reclamation Association, as well as the Director's 100 Club for WVU Athletics; and

    Whereas, Jim has received numerous honors in his career, such as having been named a “Distinguished West Virginian” by two Governors, and having received the degree of Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Salem College in 1984. In 1985, Senator Robert C. Byrd recommended him to President Reagan, to be a member of the Christopher Columbus 500th Jubilee Commission (consisting of 35 Americans of Italian descent and the U.S. Secretary of the Interior) in celebration of the 500th year of the discovery of America; and

    Whereas, During this period of Jim's career, he became focused on his passions, which were his heritage, food, the arts and animals. He chaired the original Board of Directors of the West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival and served on the board through its' infancy and early developmental years. His interest in food resulted in owning over 500 cookbooks, as well as opening Nona Maria's Restaurant at Eastpointe. Always striving to improve the quality of food in the area, those who knew him knew he always offered culinary advice to anyone that would listen. He pursued his interest in the Arts by purchasing the Robinson Grand Theatre in downtown Clarksburg. After extensive research into the theatre, he began and completed renovations to the facility, which resulted in the reopening of the theatre under a new name, The Rose Garden Theatre. He was determined that the Arts should be developed and maintained in his hometown, and was confident that the theatre could serve as the cornerstone of the redevelopment of downtown Clarksburg. His vision 30 years ago remains viable. His only request was that the theatre be renamed "The James LaRosa Theatre for the Performing Arts", in honor of his Father; and

    Whereas, His passion for animals was legendary. From his support of The Harrison County Humane Society to his unbridled compassion for stray animals, James D. LaRosa never encountered an animal in need that he didn't adopt. Whether it was taking his dogs and cats for a ride in his station wagon, or stopping his entire workforce to look for a lost animal, his dedication to his pets was unparalleled; and

    Whereas, In the 1980's his vision for the area continued to grow when he began development of what is now known as the Pete Dye Golf Club. His confidence in the property, Pete Dye, and in the community has led to the exposure of his hometown to tens of thousands of people from throughout the world. The course has been and continues to be recognized as one of the Top 50 Golf Courses in the Country and one of the Top 100 Courses in the World. West Virginia, the coal industry and his hometown were exposed to the world when the Club hosted a PGA Nationwide Tour Event, which was televised throughout the world. The event became the most viewed television event in the history of the Nationwide Tour Series and positively exposed his state to the millions of viewers who watched; and

    Whereas, Jim was a giver by nature, and as he provided assistance for others, he never expected much in return. He was truly committed to providing opportunities for people to enhance their quality of life and to being the steward for enriching the community that provided him and his family with the many opportunities that it did. He will always be remembered as a true West Virginian who used all of his resources and energy to improve his state and community; and

    Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established in the name of James D. LaRosa in an area where he focused much of his attention on developing an award-winning facility for his community; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 17-24/1-5.79 (17A321), which crosses Simpson Creek, at 0.01 miles west of County Route 24, from the Meadowbrook Mall to the Pete Dye Golf Course, at Bridgeport, Harrison County, West Virginia, the “James D. LaRosa 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 “James D. LaRosa 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.