Introduced Version
Senate Concurrent Resolution 11 History
OTHER VERSIONS -
Committee Substitute (1)
|
| Email
Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 11
(By Senators Kirkendoll, Stollings, Plymale and Jenkins)
Requesting the Division of Highways to name bridge number 23-10/20-
0.23, located on County Route 110/20 in Logan, West Virginia,
crossing a tributary of the Guyandotte River and locally known
as the Logan High School Bridge, the "Army Major Thomas
McElwain Memorial Bridge".
Whereas, Thomas McElwain was born in Logan, West Virginia,
November 25, 1940, and was raised primarily by his maternal
grandparents; and
Whereas, Thomas McElwain attended Logan High School for a
year, but later obtained a high school equivalency diploma; and
Whereas, Thomas McElwain enlisted in the United States Army in
1958, at the age of eighteen, and underwent basic training at Fort
Jackson, South Carolina; and
Whereas, Thomas McElwain later attended Drury College in
Springfield, Missouri, and the University of Maryland Far East
Branch, obtaining two Master's Degrees; and
Whereas, Thomas McElwain rose through the ranks as an enlisted
soldier and became a commissioned officer, completing numerous
training assignments, including airborne training and special forces training, and completing officer candidate school at Fort
Benning, Georgia, in 1963; and
Whereas, Army Major Thomas McElwain was commanding officer of
Company C, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry in Vietnam in
1967 and 1968; and
Whereas, Army Major Thomas McElwain was awarded the Silver
Star for gallantry in action during a search-and-destroy mission
November 11, 1967, near Dak To, Republic of Vietnam. When his
company came under a heavy enemy mortar, rocket and small arms
attack, Major (then Captain) McElwain distinguished himself on
several occasions during the seven-hour battle, exposing himself to
enemy fire to drag a wounded man to safety and to carry out the
requirements of his command, although wounded himself; and
Whereas, In addition to the Silver Star, Major Thomas McElwain
was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor (three awards), Army
Commendation Medal for Valor (two awards), Purple Heart, Vietnamese
Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star, the Vietnamese Cross of
Gallantry with Gold Star, the Good Conduct Medal, National Defense
Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Air
Medal, Combat Infantry Badge and the Senior Parachutist Badge; and
Whereas, After his second tour of duty in Vietnam as a
military advisor to 36,000 Montagnards, Major Thomas McElwain was
chosen by General William Westmoreland for a National Speakers
Tour. He traveled extensively throughout West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio to local civic organizations to share information about
the war; and
Whereas, After his stint as a speaker for the Army, Major
Thomas McElwain became Commandant of Cadets at the University of
Nebraska in Omaha. After this, Major McElwain was assigned to the
ROTC program at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Since his office was located in the gym, he developed a friendship
with Al McGuire, the head basketball coach at Marquette at that
time. Having earned two Master's Degrees while in the Army and
upon retiring from the Army, Major Thomas McElwain taught at Park
College, taught at Webster College Graduate School, supervised
student teachers at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and
taught fourth grade at Radford School for Girls; and
Whereas, Major Thomas McElwain was a 32nd Degree Mason and was
a member of the Grand Lodge of Texas Ancient Free and Accepted
Masons, Wallace Hughton Lodge Number 1393. He was also active in
the Shriners. Following retirement Major McElwain moved to
Henderson, Nevada, where he lived and enjoyed playing golf with
family and friends, shooting his pistols and cooking; and
Whereas, Army Major Thomas McElwain died September 24, 2013;
and
Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be
established in the community he considered home to commemorate this
native son's service to his country; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name
bridge number 23-10/20-0.23, located on County Route 110/20 in
Logan, West Virginia, crossing a tributary of the Guyandotte River
and locally known as the Logan High School Bridge, the "Army Major
Thomas McElwain Memorial Bridge"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of
Highways is hereby requested to erect signs at both ends of the
bridge containing bold and prominent letters proclaiming the bridge
the "Army Major Thomas McElwain Memorial 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; to James W. Mullins; and to family
members of Army Major Thomas McElwain.