HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 34

(By Delegates Manchin, Caputo, Prunty and Coleman)

[Introduced February 21, 2002; referred to the

Committee on Rules.]


Requesting the West Virginia Division of Highways to name the bridge over Buffalo Creek and the CSX Railroad line in Bellview, West Virginia on U.S. Route 19 the "Johnnie Johnson Senior Citizens Bridge."

Whereas, It was a quirk of fate on New Year's Eve of 1952 that led the world's greatest blues piano player, Johnnie Johnson a Fairmont native to hire a relatively unknown by the name of "Chuck Berry" to sit in for one of his ailing band members; and

Whereas, In 1955, Johnnie Johnson's band with Chuck Berry as singer and guitar player recorded the hit song "Maybelline" which went to the top of the charts and led to a long time collaboration between Johnnie Johnson and Chuck Berry, a twenty-year collaboration that helped shape and create "Rock and Roll" the music movement that changed the country; and

Whereas, The song "Johnnie B. Goode," considered by many to be the national anthem of Rock was a tribute written by Chuck Berry to
honor Johnnie Johnson; and
Whereas, Johnnie Johnson, who at the age of seventy-six, will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 19, 2002; and

Whereas, The citizens of Marion County including many active senior citizens and friends of Johnnie Johnson know the struggles he has had and they take a special pride in the accomplishments of this talented man working hard to ensure that his legend is preserved and that his contributions to music, West Virginia and the world are appropriately recognized; and

Whereas, The senior citizens of Bellview have worked long and diligently in making this bridge possible; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Legislature hereby requests the West Virginia Division of Highways to name the bridge over Buffalo Creek and the CSX Railroad line in Bellview, West Virginia on U.S. Route 19 the "Johnnie Johnson Senior Citizens Bridge"; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the West Virginia Division of Highways provide and erect a sign at either end of the bridge displaying the name of the bridge; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates is
hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways, and to Johnnie Johnson, Artist in Residence at Fairmont State College.