HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 54
(By Delegates Frazier and Shott)
Requesting that a portion of U.S. 19 from its intersection with
U.S. 460 North to the city limits of Princeton from mile
marker 10.70 to mile marker 12.36 in Mercer County, West
Virginia be named the "William H. Sanders II Memorial
Highway."
Whereas, William H. Sanders II was born in Princeton, West
Virginia, in 1917 to Hartley Poe Sanders and Ina Hylton Sanders and
passed away at age 92 in June of 2009; and
Whereas, William Sanders II graduated from Princeton High
School, received his undergraduate degree from Randolph Macon
College for Men, and his law degree from the University of
Virginia; and
Whereas, In 1942, during World War II, William graduated from
law school and joined the Marines; and
Whereas, As a marine, William participated in the second
bloodiest battle in Marine Corps history at the atoll of Tarawa
located in the Gilbert Islands in the South Pacific, where he was
instrumental in knocking out a heavily fortified machine gun nest,
while suffering from a shot to the neck by a Japanese sniper.
While receiving medical treatment in Hawaii, William was awarded the Purple Heart and the Navy Cross, the highest medal given by the
United States Navy and second only to the Medal of Honor. Admiral
Chester Nimitz, Supreme Commander of the United States Navy in the
Pacific, personally pinned both medals on William; and
Whereas, After his recuperation, William rejoined the Marines
in time for the invasion of Saipan, which was the headquarters of
the Japanese Pacific operation, and the invasion of the island of
Tinian. William was awarded the Bronze star for his efforts at
Saipan. William was honorably discharged with the rank of Major in
1946; and
Whereas, After the war, William returned to the University of
Virginia Law School where, at his request, the University started
an international law program, and, William was the first to
graduate with a Masters of International Law; and
Whereas, While at the University, William met and married the
love of his life, Katherine Little Sanders, who was a masters
degree student in English; and
Whereas, As part of his masters program, William and Katherine
relocated to Germany, where William served as an Assistant Staff
Secretary to the Staff of U.S. Military Governor General Lucius
Clay, and, where their first child was born, David Hartley Sanders;
and
Whereas, Although William intended to work for the state
Department in Washington, DC, William returned to Princeton to
assist his ailing father in his law practice; and
Whereas, Throughout his years of law practice William was the
champion of the underdog and fought many social causes, including
but not limited to, integration and improving the relationship
between whites and blacks in the area. For many years, William
served as the president of the Human Rights Council, which was an
organization of whites and blacks throughout Mercer County that
worked to promote positive relations between the races; and
Whereas, In the 1960's, William sued the City of Princeton
because the city had a "whites only" policy at the city park and
city swimming pool; and
Whereas, As a result of this lawsuit, the city park was again
opened to all of the public, regardless of race. For many years
after this lawsuit, William and his family endured attacks and
harassment from those against an integrated society. Nonetheless,
William stuck to his principals; and
Whereas, In 1968, William built a beautiful law office on land
he owned near his home outside of Princeton, near Green Valley.
Williams also built a Holiday Inn with his brother-in-law at the
crossroads of U.S. 460 and Interstate 77. It was the first
national chain hotel in Mercer County; and
Whereas, In recent years, William slowed down his practice of
law and focused on the researching and writing of local histories.
William wrote thirteen local history books, including two about his
own life; and
Whereas, In 1997, he wrote "On The Skirmish Line", his autobiography, that details his early experiences in Princeton, and
many of his skirmishes that he engaged in, including in the
Pacific, in the courts, and over racial issues; and
Whereas, William's profound love for Mercer County, its
founders and their descendants was his passion for many years. He
dedicated a large part of his life to collecting and documenting
the local history; thereby, preserving for it for us and for future
generations; and
Whereas, William is survived by his wife, Katherine and their
four children, David Hartley Sanders, a Judge in the eastern
panhandle; Mary Hylton Sanders and William H. Sanders, III, both
lawyers; and Katherine Todd Koerner, as well as eight grandchildren
and one great grandchild; and
Whereas, William H. Sanders II was a loving and devoted father
that served his community with unfettered generosity and
distinction, and his country with undaunted courage; and
Whereas, The life of William H. Sanders II shall be recognized
and honored; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name a
portion of U.S. 19 from its intersection with U.S. 460 North to the
city limits of Princeton from mile marker 10.70 to mile marker
12.36 in Mercer County, West Virginia, the "William H. Sanders II
Memorial Highway"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of Highways is hereby requested to erect signs containing bold and
prominent letters proclaiming this section of the road the "William
H. Sanders II Memorial Highway"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House forward a
certified copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the
Division of Highways and the family of William H. Sanders II.