Committee Substitute

for

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 19

(By Senators Maynard, Boley, Trump, Stollings and Beach)

[Originating in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; Reported March 15, 2017]

Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 24-52/19-0.01 (24A293), (37.41606, -81.43625), originally known as the Northfork Bridge, located in Northfork, McDowell County, carrying County Route 52/19 over Elkhorn Creek, the “Blue Demons Bridge”.

Whereas, The Northfork High School’s sobriquet, going back to 1966, was the Blue Demons; and

Whereas, Sports fans from across this state still talk about the Blue Demons’ boys’ basketball teams that won Class AA state championships in 1971 and 1984, as well as eight consecutive state championships from 1974 through 1981; and

Whereas, When this state inaugurated the first girls’ basketball tournament in 1976, the Demonettes won then as well in 1977 and 1979; and

Whereas, The Blue Demons’ 1973 football team had a perfect season record of 12 and 0; and

Whereas, Over the 19 years in which Northfork High School was in existence, the boys’ basketball team compiled an amazing record of 112 wins to only 12 losses on their home floor; and

Whereas, Although Northfork High School has been closed for more than 30 years, the memories are just as vivid today as when they were being made decades ago for all who attended this legendary school, forever holding a place in the hearts of former students and teachers; and

Whereas, This school will always be remembered by all who saw the Blue Demons play or heard of their exploits, as the source of the nickname for the town that is still known today as the basketball capital of the United States; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 24-52/19-0.01 (24A293), (37.41606, -81.43625), originally known as the Northfork Bridge, located in Northfork, McDowell County, carrying County Route 52/19 over Elkhorn Creek, the “Blue Demons Bridge”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge as the “Blue Demons 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.