SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 34
(By Senator Chafin)
Requesting the Division of Highways name the portion of U. S. 52
from Taylorville Bridge to the intersection of State Route 44
in Mingo County the "R. A. West Memorial Highway".
Whereas, R. A. West was born on March 12, 1947, in the town of
Varney, Mingo County; and
Whereas, R. A. West married Marsha Lowe of Williamson, Mingo
County. He took a position as fireman with the Norfolk and Western
Railroad and soon thereafter became the youngest person to be
promoted to the position of engineer; and
Whereas, At the age of 22, R. A. West, despite the fact that
his first-born son was paralyzed due to injury at birth and was
confined to a wheelchair, was driven by his religious convictions
to heed the call to the evangelical ministry and resigned his job
with the railroad, forfeiting his job-related medical benefits
while large medical bills associated with the condition of his son
continued to mount, thereby evidencing his unshakable religious
faith; and
Whereas, R. A. West began proselytizing and, due to his
unquestioning faith and religious fervor, was never content with
evangelizing solely on Sundays. Instead, he evangelized an average
of 300 times each year, continuing this amazingly torrid pace for
the first 15 years of his ministry; and
Whereas, R. A. West Ministry expanded into radio and
television throughout the United States and into 80 foreign
countries, spreading a constructive and positive message to
millions of human beings throughout the planet; and
Whereas, In spite of his national and world acclaim, R. A.
West never abandoned nor distanced himself from his humble origins,
nor from his beloved Varney, West Virginia, nor from his family,
friends and parishioners; and
Whereas, R. A. West, as a direct result of his good and
fruitful works, became one of the most respected unofficial
ambassadors of West Virginia, a fact which was commemorated by
former Governor Jay Rockefeller, among other prominent notables;
and
Whereas, Sadly, R. A. West was suddenly and unexpectedly taken
to his reward on July 6, 2002, when his earthly existence was
terminated as the result of a motorcycle accident; this event
resulted in the largest funeral ever conducted in southern West
Virginia, drawing approximately 2,000 persons from all over the
United States who gathered to pay their last respects; and
Whereas, The residents of Varney, Mingo County, as well as
people from all over the United States and in the foreign countries
where Reverend West's message of peace, love and faith was
broadcast, shall never forget his towering spirit and his dedicated
fervor in sharing his religious faith; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby requests the Division of Highways
name the portion of U. S. 52 from Taylorville Bridge to the
intersection of State Route 44 in Mingo County the "R. A. West
Memorial Highway"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby
requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the highway
as the "R. A. West Memorial Highway"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby
directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Secretary of
the Department of Transportation and to the family of the Reverend
R. A. West.