HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 82
(By Delegates R. Thompson and Perdue)
[Introduced March 4, 2003; referred to the
Committee on Rules.]
Requesting the West Virginia Division of Highways to establish a
"Robert L. Bradley, M.D., Ph.D., Brigadier General Memorial
Highway".
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 Legislature hereby requests the West Virginia
Division of Highways to establish and name the following portion of
I-64 roadway the "Robert L. Bradley, M.D., Ph.D., Brigadier General
Memorial Highway":
Beginning at a point on Wayne CR 3/2 being Mile Post 0.00 to
Mile Post 1.25, thence on CR 3/1 from Mile Post 0.09 to Mile Post
0.00, thence CR 3 from Mile Post 2.72 to Mile Post 3.68, thence
crossing the Wheeler Bridge to CR 5 Mile Post 1.15 to Mile Post
0.00, thence CR 7 from Mile Post 17.84 to Mile Post 16.70, thence
CR 6 from Mile Post 0.00, thence CR 7 from Mile Post 17.84 to Mile
Post 16.70, thence CR 6 from Mile Post 0.00 to Mile Post 1.26,
thence CR 6/1 from Mile Post 0.00 to Mile Post 1.54 at the Wayne
County, Cabell County Line, thence following a proposed new road
known as "Spring Valley Connector, State Project X250-7/47-.0000"
joining with I-64 at Mile Post 6.74;
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 the family of Dr.
Bradley.