SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 22

(By Senators Miller, Klempa, Yost and Wills)

Requesting the Division of Highways to name the bridge located in Renick, Greenbrier County, West Virginia, that spans the Greenbrier River on Auto Road, Bridge Number 13-11-0.54, the “Keene Memorial Bridge”.

    Whereas, The Keene family was directly responsible for contributing the land for the bridge expansion in the late 1970s. The Keene family members have been Renick and Greenbrier County residents for at least five generations and owners living on the adjacent Renick property since the 1920s. The main resident and long-time landowner began with William Keene, Sr. The subject bridge is located in Renick positioned and connected to a piece of property, also known as the "Keene Farm", "Jonah's Landing" and the "Home Place". The Home Place, or Keene Farm, was sold several years ago under a Jonah Keene trust upon his passing as the last resident and property owner. The current land parcel is officially called "Jonah's Landing", and is an affluent group of estate properties with residents and landowners that include state government leaders and prominent attorneys; and

    Whereas, Jonah Keene, was the most recent of the Keene land owners, and was instrumental in deeding the land for the bridge expansion in the late 1970s for the parcel that connects the existing bridge. The Keene family is survived by William Keene, grandson of William Keene, Sr., currently of White Sulphur Springs. The Keene family has a rich history and record of military service to this country that spans three wars and tremendous sacrifice. A chronological record of the Keene family's service consists of those Renick and Greenbrier County residents of the Keene family that have served while also having lived on the property in Renick adjacent to the actual bridge site: Paris Keene of Renick, West Virginia, served in the United States Navy at the rank of F1 during WWI from 1918-1920. He served with the Civil Conservation Corp (CCC) during WWII in West Virginia. He is buried in Renick alongside his wife and not far from the bridge. Jonah W. Keene of Renick, West Virginia, and primary landowner of the bridge property and transition, served in the United States Army at the rank of Tec3 during WWII and from 1941 through October 1945 and was part of the Africa Campaign. He is buried in Renick, West Virginia, not far from the bridge. Edward Harvey Keene, resident of Renick, West Virginia, served in the United States Marines from 1953-1962, and post Korean War and in other services between 1933 and 1971. Harvey W. Keene of Renick, West Virginia, served in the United States Army as a Pfc. from 1943-1945 during WWII. Jerry Keene of Renick, West Virginia, and grandson of William Keene, served in the United States Army for 22 years and served during the Vietnam War. Lynne Keene of Renick, West Virginia, also a grandson of William Keene, served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War from 1960-1962; and

    Whereas, The contributions, history and involvement of the Keene family in service to this country, their citizenship and long standing history in Renick and Greenbrier County, together with the involvement with the deed to the land that made the bridge possible are factors demonstrating a family lineage of unwavering service to this country and community involvement and spirit that is deserving of lasting recognition and respect; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name the bridge located in Renick, Greenbrier County, West Virginia, that spans the Greenbrier River on Auto Road, Bridge Number 13-11-0.54, the “Keene Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge as the “Keene Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate forward a certified copy of this resolution to the surviving Keene family members and the Secretary of the Department of Transportation.