COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

FOR

HOUSE RESOLUTION 30



(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss and Delegates Flanigan, Wright, Yeager, Martin, Staton, Sparks, Osborne, Campbell, Compton, Laird,



Louisos, Mahan, McGraw, Pulliam, Willis and Shelton)


Recognizing the outstanding and valiant services of Specialist Mark B. Houck, who is a member of HHC, 1st Battalion, 150th Armor Division, West Virginia Army National Guard, and who was injured while on State emergency duty on February 2, 1998.

Whereas, Specialist Houck, the son of Gary and Della Houck, was a star athlete in several sports at Mullens High School, and currently is employed by the Talon Company in Wyoming County; and
Whereas, The Governor of the State of West Virginia declared a State of Emergency in the month of January in the year nineteen hundred ninety-eight; and
Whereas, Specialist Houck has been a member of the National Guard for three years in which he has been called upon numerous times to provide aid and comfort to those that have been affected by disaster; and
Whereas, This State of Emergency was called for twelve southern and southeastern counties as a result of a severe snow storm that left up to 42 inches of heavy wet snow; and
Whereas, As a result of the storm, thousands of residents were without electrical power and needed assistance in securing food, medicine, shelter and other necessities; and
Whereas, The West Virginia National Guard was activated by the Governor to assist residents in the storm-affected areas; and
Whereas, Guardsman immediately began evacuating and transporting residents, clearing the roads of fallen trees, delivering water, supplies and fuel and numerous other activities; and
Whereas, During his third consecutive day of assisting residents of neighboring McDowell County, Specialist Houck was en route to deliver fuel for a generator at a local water plant when he was severely injured in an unfortunate accident; and
Whereas, Since the date of his injury, Specialist Houck has been hospitalized at Charleston Area Medical Center where he has undergone several surgeries and will undergo rehabilitation services for the next several months before he will be able to return to his daily activities; and
Whereas, It is fitting and proper to recognize the selflessness, significant and valuable contributions that Specialist Mark B. Houck has made to the State of West Virginia and its citizens at a time of great need; therefore be it
Resolved by the West Virginia House of Delegates:
That the West Virginia House of Delegates hereby acknowledges the courage and sacrifices that Specialist Mark B. Houck has provided the State of West Virginia and its citizens; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the West Virginia House of Delegates extend best wishes to the family of Specialist Houck and prayers for his swift and complete recovery.