HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 15
(By Delegates Campbell and Brown)
Requesting the bridge currently named "Spring Creek Bridge" in
Greenbrier County, West Virginia, crossing Spring Creek
located in Renick, West Virginia, specifically bridge number
13-219-25.47, be named the "John Joseph Walkup, Jr. Bridge."
Whereas, John Joseph Walkup, Jr. was born at home on June 19,
1924 at River View Farm near Spring Creek, West Virginia to John
Joseph Walkup and Vocie Spencer Walkup.
Whereas, He lived on the family farm throughout his childhood
except the years from 1930 - 1934. During these years of the Great
Depression, John Jr. and his mother moved to White Sulphur Springs
so Vocie could work at the town bank; and
Whereas, John attended Pleasant View Grade School where Mable
Stout was one of his favorite teachers; and
Whereas, During his years at Frankford High School, he took up
amateur boxing and participated in the West Virginia "Golden
Gloves" competition in 1940; and
Whereas, After graduation in 1942, John enlisted in the U.S.
Marine Corps and served from 1942-1945 on the Pacific front in the
artillery division of A Company, 4
th Marine Division. While serving
he fought on the Japanese islands of Saipan, Tinian, Roi Tan and Iwo Jima and was wounded twice; and
Whereas, He served his country again in 1950 in the Marine
reserves during the Korean War; and
Whereas, On August 27, 1947 he married Barbara Lee Burns. In
1947, they welcomed their first son Zivo Vernon who was followed by
John Joseph III in 1955 and Terry Lee in 1957; and
Whereas, After completing his education at the Nashville
AutoDiesel School, he moved his family to Lewisburg, West Virginia
where he worked at Woods' Garage, drove a taxi and started a stock
car racing career. He built and drove a 1938 Chevy coup, #26,
which he called the "Steve Bolt Special"; and
Whereas, In 1955, John returned to the family farm to raise
angus cattle, run a Texico station and drive a school bus for the
Greenbrier County school system; and
Whereas, In 1971, River View Farm was awarded the West Virginia
Family Farm of the Year, Runner-up; and
Whereas, In 1966, John was elected to the Greenbrier County
Board of Education, where he served until 1978; and
Whereas, John is currently a member of the Renick Baptist
Church, the Hillsboro Masonic Lodge and a charter member of the
Renick Ruritan Club; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name
bridge number 13-219-25.47 crossing Spring Creek in Renick, WV, the
John Joseph Walkup Jr. Bridge; 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 bridge, containing bold and
prominent letters proclaiming the bridge to be named the "John
Joseph Walkup, Jr. 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 Mr. John Joseph Walkup, Jr.