HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 81
(By Delegates Manchin, Prunty, Caputo, Coleman,
Kuhn, Flanigan, Stalnaker and
Staton)
[Introduced March 7, 2002; referred to the
Committee on Rules.]
Requesting the West Virginia Division of Highways to name the twin
bridges located on Interstate 79 and crossing the Tygart
Valley River at mile post 132½ be named the "Prunty Bridges"
and to designate the southbound bridge to memorialize the life
and everlasting contributions of William Lee Prunty, "The
William Lee Prunty Memorial Bridge."
Whereas,
William Lee Prunty graduated from East Fairmont High
School and was a 1956 graduate of West Virginia University, with a
bachelor's degree in public school music; and
Whereas,
William Prunty earned a master's degree in composition
from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York in 1958;
and
Whereas,
He earned a doctorate degree in music education from
Colorado Christian College, in Evergreen, Colorado; and
Whereas,
William Lee Prunty was recognized for his musical
talents both in the State of West Virginia and nationally,
including twice receiving the "Arts and Humanities Award" for his compositions of "Offering on Amazing Grace" and "Four for Susan,"
his selection by the Arts and Humanities Council of West Virginia
as one of the recipients of the state commissions to composers to
write a musical work for the "Bicentennial United States
Celebration" in the State of West Virginia
, and his thesis,
"Overture for a Dramatic Comedy" has been performed by orchestras
across the country, including the Eastman Symphony Orchestra,
Eastman Rochester Symphony and the Dallas Texas Symphony; and his
thesis has been placed in the "Fleisher Music Library of
Philadelphia"; and
Whereas,
William Lee Prunty received international honors for
his musical talents, including that he was commended by the Queen
of England, Elizabeth II, for his musical compositions
and, for his
compositions of "Trio Allegria" and "Sketches for Clarinet," both
of which were selected by Gaudeamos Foundation of the Netherlands
as important works by a composer in the United States and placed in
their contemporary music library; and
Whereas,
He has been widely recognized for his poetic talents,
having had his poetry featured in three separate volumes of "New
Voices in American Poetry" and having had compositions listed in
"Personalities of the South" and "Men of Achievement," Melrose Press, Cambridge, England; and
Whereas,
William Lee Prunty widely shared his talents by
performing and teaching, and at the time of his death was a music
instructor at Fairmont State College; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the twin bridges located on Interstate 79 and crossing
the Tygart Valley River at mile post 132½ be named the "Prunty
Bridges" and that the southbound bridge be designated to
memorialize the life and everlasting contributions of William Lee
Prunty; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House is hereby
requested to forward a copy of this resolution to the West Virginia
State Division of Highways.