HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 23

(By Delegates Staton and Browning)

[Introduced February 3, 2003; referred to the

Committee on Rules.]


Requesting the Division of Highways to name the new bridge on Moran Avenue approaching downtown Mullens, Wyoming County, the "Ray Toler Memorial Bridge".

Whereas, Ray Toler was born July 22, 1909, on Laurel Branch in Wyoming County and was a lifelong resident of Wyoming County, living in Mullens from 1921 until his death in April 2002. He was Valedictorian of the Mullens High School Class of 1927; he graduated from Concord College in 1934; and he graduated from the West Virginia University Law School in 1942. Ray Toler was a teacher in Wyoming County from 1931 to 1942, teaching at Itmann and Stephenson grade schools and at Baileysville and Mullens High School; and

Whereas, Ray Toler practiced law in Mullens for almost sixty years, during which time he demonstrated his dedication to family, church and community of Mullens by serving as president of the local PTA, Board of Directors of the Girl Scouts, Trustee for Alderson-Broaddus College, twenty-five years on the Selective Service Board, president and fifty-year member of the Mullens Rotary Club, was a fifty-year member of the Mullens Masonic Lodge, Director and Chairman of the Board of the People's Bank of Mullens,
was a fifty-five year member and Men's Bible Class teacher, trustee and deacon of Highland Avenue Baptist Church, city attorney for Mullens and member of the State Bar Association and American and Wyoming County Bar Associations; and
Whereas, Ray Toler is fondly remembered by the people of his county as a man of dedication, wisdom and humor; and

Whereas, It is a fitting tribute to Ray Toler that this bridge be named in his memory; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name the new bridge on Moran Avenue approaching downtown Mullens, Wyoming County, the "Ray Toler Memorial Bridge"; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is requested to have made and be placed, at either end of the bridge, signs identifying the bridge as the "Ray Toler Memorial 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 and the family of Ray Toler.