SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 8

(By Senators Mullins, Boso, Cline, Plymale, Beach, Karnes, Stollings, Ojeda, Facemire and Prezioso)

[Introduced February 13, 2017]

Requesting Division of Highways name bridge number 41-19-13.21 (41A179), (37.74976, -81.14022), locally known as Beaver Arch, carrying U. S. Route 19 over Little Beaver Creek in Raleigh County, the “Donnie Adkins Memorial Bridge”.

Whereas, Mr. Adkins was born on November 26,1977, in Charleston and attended DuPont High School. He was most recently employed by the Capital Resource Weatherization Program in Montgomery. He was a member of the Glasgow Volunteer Fire Department and had been a member of the Rand Volunteer Fire Department; and

Whereas, Mr. Adkins died on March 13, 2010, while assisting with a swift water rescue during flooding at Beaver. He and his crew had successfully rescued fifteen people before their boat capsized, throwing all three of them into the water. The other two were rescued shortly thereafter; and

Whereas, Mr. Adkins was a loving son, brother, father and friend to many, especially his friends at the fire department where he spent many hours. He was known for his love of WVU football and basketball and NASCAR; and

Whereas, Hundreds of people attended the funeral service for Mr. Adkins in the gymnasium at Riverside High School where his casket was draped with an American flag. His uniform sat next to it along with dozens of flower arrangements and a sea of blue and white as dozens of his fellow first responders paid their respects to him; and

Whereas, Chaplain Dee Gibson with the Cedar Grove Volunteer Fire Department spoke at the service about how Mr. Adkins knew their lives were in danger saying, “He gave his life so another could live. He didn't just save one life that day, he saved many.”; and

Whereas, State Fire Marshal Sterling Lewis addressed members of the Glasgow Volunteer Fire Department during the service by saying, “Return to what you do best. l think that's what Donnie would want you to do.” Mr. Lewis also thanked Mr. Adkins’ family for allowing him to become a volunteer adding, “Without you sharing time, he could not have done that.”; and

Whereas, Mr. Adkins’ father spoke during the service, thanking the first responders for their hard work and dedication. He also asked everyone in the crowd never to take life for granted saying, “Everyone here that has children or grandchildren turn and give them a big hug because you never know from one minute to the next. Do everything with your kids while you can. To be truthful, wish it could have been me, instead of him.”; and

Whereas, Governor Joe Manchin attended the funeral service and thanked Mr. Adkin’s family, along with other emergency workers; and

Whereas, When the funeral service ended, local fire departments were dismissed slowly out of the gymnasium. Mr. Adkins’ casket was in a fire truck, escorted by several other fire trucks to the Kanawha Valley Memorial Gardens along Route 60 in Glasgow where the graveside service ended with a last call to Mr. Adkins over the radio; and

Whereas, Mr. Adkins will always be a hero to all the family and friends he leaves behind; and

Whereas, It is a fitting tribute to Mr. Adkins and his unselfish heroism to name bridge number 41-19-13.21 (41A179), (37.74976, -81.14022), locally known as Beaver Arch, carrying

U. S. Route 19 over Little Beaver Creek in Raleigh County, the “Donnie Adkins Memorial Bridge”; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

            That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 41-19-13.21 (41A179), (37.74976, -81.14022), locally known as Beaver Arch, carrying U. S. Route 19 over Little Beaver Creek in Raleigh County, the “Donnie Adkins Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

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

            Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.