Requesting the Division of Highways to name the bridge to be built over the Gauley River at Jodie, West Virginia , the "C.D. Coleman Bridge."

Whereas, Carl D. Coleman, or C.D., as all his family and friends call him, was born in Jodie, West Virginia on October 4, 1934, the sixth son of Raymond and Mary Coleman, and the grandson of Henry Coleman all of whom influenced his determination to improve Jodie for the benefit and well being for every citizen therein;

and
Whereas, C.D.'s grandfather often stressed the dangerous condition of the only bridge into Jodie which undoubtedly influenced C.D.'s commitment to civic mindedness; and

Whereas, At an early age, C.D. became involved in service to his community and was often found filling potholes in the byways of Jodie; and

Whereas, C.D.

Whereas,

C.D. returned to Jodie and continued his selfless service to community and found employment in the coal mines, joining the legions of West Virginians, who by their labor, have made for a better West Virginia; and
Whereas,

married Carol Boner and together, raised their five children in Jodie, while at the same time C.D. served as Baptist minister for many churches "a gratis" not only providing spiritual support but always finding time to do physical chores for the ill and elderly, regardless of faith; and
Whereas,

was instrumental in forming the Jodie Environmental Committee, which by its efforts greatly improved Jodie by cleaning up open dumps, roadways, several miles of Rich Creek, the Gauley River front, the town cemetery and property at the entrance into Jodie that would serve as a town park. It was because of these herculean efforts that Governor Gaston C. Caperton awarded Jodie the "West Virginia Make It Shine Award" in 1994 and the "West Virginia Environmental Award" in 1995; and
Whereas,

Although stricken with cancer, but buoyed by confidence gained from the transformation of Jodie, C.D. decided to aggressively press for a new modern bridge into Jodie, a goal of his grandfather many years prior. C.D. then engaged in a vigorous letter writing campaign and kept the phone lines hot out of Jodie, to any one and everyone he felt should be aware of the unsafe bridge until he was successful in persuading a delegation from the State Division of Highways to attend a town meeting in Jodie. It was, after crossing the old bridge into Jodie, and after the powerful but calm argument at the town meeting, that the officials of the State Division of Highways acceded and agreed to build a new modern bridge into Jodie; and
Whereas,

The environmental committee that C.D. helped to organize and lead is still functioning in Jodie, a credit to the man of declining physical ability; and
Whereas,

Whereas, The naming of the bridge is an appropriate act to honor one of West Virginia's outstanding lifelong volunteer citizens, who contributed immensely to the betterment of Jodie, West Virginia; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby request the West Virginia Division of Highways to name the bridge to be built over the Gauley River at Jodie, West Virginia, the "C.D. Coleman Bridge"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the commissioner is requested to have made and be placed, at either end of the bridge, signs identifying the bridge as the "C.D. Coleman Bridge"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Secretary of Transportation, the Commissioner of the Division of Highways, the County Commission of Fayette County, and Mr. and Mrs. C.D. Coleman.