COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

FOR

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 16

(By Senators Edgell, Kessler (Mr. President),

 Unger, Prezioso, Klempa and Beach)

[Originating in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure]

Requesting the Division of Highways to name the bridge on WV Route 82, crossing South Fork Fishing Creek in Wetzel County, bridge number 52-82-0.03, as the “Ralph Ice Bridge”.

    Whereas, Ralph Ice was born on March 31, 1921, in Smithfield, West Virginia, one of twelve children of Esten and Flossie Bell Ice; and

    Whereas, Ralph Ice enlisted in the United States Army in 1942, and was sent to fight in Battle of the Bulge in 1944; and

    Whereas, Ralph Ice was a member of the 89th Infantry Division that liberated Ohrdruf, the first Nazi concentration camp to be liberated by U. S. Troops in Germany, on April 4, 1945; and

    Whereas, Ralph Ice was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Combat Infantry Medal, and a medal for Service Behind Enemy Lines, all earned for his brave service in Germany, England, Belgium and Austria; and

    Whereas, Ralph Ice married Fairy Louise LaSure Kelley in 1946, and together they moved to Jacksonburg, WV, where they raised six children and two foster children; and

    Whereas, Ralph Ice was the longest serving Postmaster of Jacksonburg, serving thirty-nine years from 1948 until 1986; and

    Whereas, Ralph Ice was the President of the Jacksonburg School PTA and the Sportsman’s Club of Buffalo, and was instrumental getting the Jacksonburg streets paved; and

    Whereas, Ralph Ice and his family moved to New Martinsville in 1972, where they opened Magnolia Carpet Store; and

    Whereas, It is fitting to honor Ralph Ice for his life-long service to our nation and his community; and

    Whereas, The naming of a bridge in honor of Ralph Ice’s exemplary life is but a small gesture of gratitude and appreciation; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Legislature hereby requests the Division of Highways to name the bridge on WV Route 82, crossing South Fork Fishing Creek in Wetzel County, bridge number 52-82-0.03, as the “Ralph Ice Bridge”; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge as the “Ralph Ice Bridge”; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation, the Commissioner of Highways, Ralph Ice and the family of Ralph Ice.