HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 39

(By Delegates R. Thompson and Perdue)

[Introduced February 12, 2003; referred to the

Committee on Rules.]


Urging the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to rename the Huntington VA Hospital the Dr. Robert L. Bradley VA Medical Center.

Whereas, Dr. Robert L. Bradley served as Chief of Surgery at the VA Hospital in Huntington, West Virginia, for almost 25 years. During this time he performed over 20,000 major surgical procedures. Veterans from many states would travel to Huntington to have Dr. Bradley take care of them. He cared deeply about medicine and the quality of care afforded to veterans and their families; and
Whereas, Dr. Robert L. Bradley, a native West Virginian, graduated from West Virginia University in 1939 and Northwestern University School of Medicine in 1942. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942 as a Battalion Surgeon and served 30 months in the Southwestern Pacific arena in the jungles of New Guinea and on Luzon. He became one of the first general surgeons to be board certified in the state of West Virginia, in 1951. In 1970 he transferred to the Veterans Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky as Chief of Surgery, a division of the University of Kentucky School of Medicine. He received his Ph.D. in Anatomy from the University of Kentucky. In 1975 he joined Marshall University's School of Medicine as a professor of anatomy and surgery. Dr. Bradley was responsible for laying the groundwork for the establishment of Marshall's medical school during the 1960's. He was Chairman of the Department of Surgery at Marshall University School of Medicine until his retirement in 1986. He retired from medicine 48 years after entering medical school at the age of 18. He has been described as "a great American of many words and wisdom whose passion, loyalty and laughter will always be present"; and
Whereas, Dr. Bradley continued his career with the military following World War II. He was a graduate of the Command and General Staff College and the Army War College. He retired from the military with the rank of Brigadier General after 37 years of service. Over his professional career in medicine and in the military, he was the author of numerous scientific articles and papers, and is quoted in several standard medical texts. He was a Diplomat of the American Board of Surgery, a member of the American Medical Association and several other professional organizations. Dr. Robert L. Bradley passed away on January 22, 2002, and is buried in New Martinsville, West Virginia. His life centered around medicine, the military, and the state of West Virginia; and
Whereas, The life, dedication and accomplishments of Dr. Robert L. Bradley, a true mountaineer and great American, his contributions to his country, state, community and family should be recognized; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the United States Department of Veterans Affairs is urged to rename the Huntington VA Hospital the Dr. Robert L. Bradley VA Medical Center; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the West Virginia delegation in Congress and to the family of Dr. Bradley.