SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 15

(By Senators Palumbo, Williams, Stollings, Beach and Plymale)

Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 20-77-101.40 (20A434), locally known as I-77 Garrison Avenue Overpass 2567, carrying Interstate 77 over Garrison Avenue in Kanawha County, the "Tom Williams Family Bridge".

            Whereas, The family of Tom Williams was raised on Garrison Avenue in Charleston, West Virginia; and

            Whereas, A daughter in the family, Lena Gay Williams McClandish, served in the U. S. Navy and was stationed at a Maryland hospital; and

            Whereas, One son, Thomas Buck Williams, also served in the U. S. Navy as a "frogman" during the Korean War; and

            Whereas, A second son, Gene Williams, served in the U. S. Army and was stationed at Fort Hood, Washington; and

            Whereas, A third son, U. S. Marine Gunnery Sergeant Dennis Williams, while serving as a Platoon Sergeant with Company D, First Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam, courageously exposed himself to enemy fire to carry a wounded comrade across fifty meters of fire-swept terrain to a place of relative safety where medical aid was available; and

            Whereas, Gunnery Sergeant Dennis Williams was awarded two Purple Hearts and retired after twenty-one years of service; and

            Whereas, As a result of his courage, bold initiative and unfaltering devotion to duty at great personal risk, Gunnery Sergeant Dennis Williams is authorized to wear the Combat V; and

            Whereas, It is fitting and proper to honor the Williams family's contribution to the nation and its military services made by the sister and three brothers herein named; therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

            That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 20-77-101.40 (20A434), locally known as I-77 Garrison Avenue Overpass 2567, carrying Interstate 77 over Garrison Avenue in Kanawha County, the "Tom Williams Family Bridge"; and, be it

            Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs at both ends of the bridge identifying the bridge as the "Tom Williams Family Bridge"; and, be it

            Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.