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Introduced Version House Concurrent Resolution 8 History

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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 8

(By Delegates Frazier, Ellington and Gearheart)

 

 

 

Requesting the Division of Highways to designate the interchange of Interstate 77 and U.S. Route 460 in Princeton, West Virginia the “All-American Rod Thorn Interchange.”

    Whereas, Rod Thorn, the son of Joe and Jackie Thorn, was raised in Princeton and graduated from Princeton High School in 1959; and

    Whereas, Rod Thorn played baseball and basketball at Princeton High School for four years, and while under the tutelage of basketball coach William "Buster" Brown, was named to the West Virginia All-State Basketball team his sophomore, junior and senior years; and

    Whereas, Rod Thorn was heavily recruited by many of the top college basketball programs in the country, but chose to stay home and play for West Virginia University; and

    Whereas, Rod Thorn was a baseball and basketball standout at WVU from 1961-1963, and played on three NCAA baseball and two NCAA basketball teams. In 1963 Rod was named the Southern Conference Athlete of the Year. In basketball, Rod scored 1785 career points and led the Mountaineers in scoring, rebounding, shooting percentage and assists while earning All-America honors from the Helms Foundation, Look, Coach and Athlete and Converse; and

    Whereas, Rod Thorn was the second player selected overall in the 1963 NBA draft by the Baltimore Bullets and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team his first year with the Bullets. Rod went on to play with Detroit, St. Louis and Seattle during a career that spanned eight years; and

     Whereas, After finishing his playing career in 1971, Rod Thorn stayed with the Seattle Supersonics as an assistant coach under head coach Lenny Wilkens. In 1973, Rod became an assistant coach of the New York Nets of the American Basketball Association, and helped the Nets, who were led by Julius Erving, to win the 1974 ABA championship. Rod also served as head coach of the ABA St. Louis Spirits in 1975 and was an assistant coach with the Nets when they moved to the NBA in 1976; and

    Whereas, In 1978, Rod Thorn began a seven year stint as general manager of the Chicago Bulls and he was instrumental in the team's selection of Michael Jordan in the 1984 draft. During his tenure with Chicago, Rod also served as interim head coach for thirty games in 1982; and

    Whereas, From 1986 to 2000 Rod Thorn was the NBA's Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, where he oversaw all on-court operations, including officiating, game conduct and discipline; and

     Whereas, In 2000 Rod Thorn became President of the New Jersey Nets and was named the NBA Executive of the Year in 2002 after the Nets advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history. In 2010 Rod Thorn became President of the Philadelphia 76ers NBA team after serving with the Nets organization the previous ten years; and

    Whereas, Rod Thorn has an honorary degree from West Virginia University and served on the WVU Board of Directors for five years. Rod also has a degree from the University of Washington that he completed while coaching with the Seattle Supersonics; and

    Whereas, Rod Thorn was inducted into the West Virginia University Sports Hall of Fame in 1992; and

    Whereas, Rod and his wife, Peggy, have a son, Jonathan, and twin daughters, Amanda and Jessica; and

    Whereas, Throughout his storied career, Rod Thorn has remained a loyal West Virginian who has continued his close ties with West Virginia University, the City of Princeton and the State of West Virginia; and

    Whereas, It is only fitting and proper that Rod Thorn's good works and important contributions to the game of basketball, to West Virginia University, the City of Princeton and the State of West Virginia be so honored and remembered; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to designate the interchange of Interstate 77 and U.S. Route 460 in Princeton, West Virginia the “All-American Rod Thorn Interchange”; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is requested to have made and be placed, signs or other appropriate markers, identifying the interchange as the “All-American Rod Thorn Interchange”; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a certified copy of this resolution to Rod Thorn and his family, and the Secretary of the Department of Transportation.

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