HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 26
(By Delegate Guthrie)
Requesting the Division of Highways name the 36th Street Bridge,
Charleston, West Virginia, otherwise identified as bridge
20-60/20-0.14, number 2565, as the "Bob Basil Memorial
Bridge".
Whereas, Robert "Bob" Wayne Basil
was born on the Fourth of
July, 1926, to Goldie Brinkman and Martin Basil; and
Whereas, As a natural patriot, upon his graduation in 1944 from
Davis & Elkins High School, he joined the United States Navy and
served two years in the Pacific; and
Whereas, After earning a degree in business administration from
Davis & Elkins College in 1950, Bob Basil embarked on a thirty-five
year career in public service, with positions in the West Virginia
State Office of the Budget, Auditor, and Legislative Auditor; and
Whereas, During legislative sessions, he served as Clerk of the
House Finance Committee; and
Whereas, Bob Basil served under eight chairs of the House
Finance Committee and seven speakers of the House of Delegates.
During his tenure in state government, he served under nine
Governors; and
Whereas, For twenty years after his retirement in 1988, Bob
Basil continued to volunteer his time to the House Finance
Committee during legislative sessions; and
Whereas, Former House Speaker Robert Kiss said the impact of
Bob Basil's knowledge was immeasurable. "Bob's knowledge of the
budget, indeed the donation of his time, was instrumental in
training several decades of house finance chairs, all of whom will
miss him dearly"; and
Whereas, Bob Basil was affectionately known to many at the
State Capitol as "Budget Analyst Extraordinaire"; and
Whereas, Bob Basil was recognized in 1996 by the House of
Delegates for his service and was named "Outstanding West
Virginian" by then-Governor Gaston Caperton; and
Whereas, A noted gardener and genuine friend, Bob Basil was
also known for his generous heart and spirited humor; and
Whereas, Bob Basil always found time to explain the budget
process to new members of the Legislature and especially to new
members of the Finance Committee; and
Whereas, The State of West Virginia sustained a great loss with
the passing of Bob Basil on July 10, 2008, at Hubbard House,
Charleston, West Virginia, due to pancreatic cancer; and
Whereas, Bob Basil is survived by his wife of fifty-seven
years, Eileen Knapp Basil; daughter, Mary Jane Sullivan and her
husband Jay, of Boca Raton, Florida; grandchildren, Jamie Sullivan and Kelly (Walter) Burton; and great-grandson, Walter "Beau"
Burton, IV, all of Florida; sister Effie Kniley; and brother Jack
Basil, both of Elkins; therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Delegates:
That it is fitting, to honor Robert "Bob" Wayne Basil for his
service to the State of West Virginia by naming said bridge
otherwise identified as bridge 20-60/20-0.14, number 2565, as the
"Bob Basil Memorial Bridge"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby
requested to have made and be placed signs identifying said bridge
as the "Bob Basil Memorial Bridge"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates
forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Secretary of the
Department of Transportation and to the family of Robert "Bob"
Wayne Basil.