HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 94

(By Delegates Frazier, Ellington and Gearheart)

Requesting the Division of Highways to name a section of Rt. 104 in Princeton, West Virginia, beginning at the intersection with Rt. 20, known as the Princeton-Athens Crossroads, and extending west on Rt. 104 along Roger Street, Brick Street and Stafford Drive to the intersection with Rt. 19 at the corner of Stafford Drive and Courthouse Road, the "Hunnicutt Family Highway."

    Whereas, H.P. and Anne S. Hunnicutt moved to Princeton, West Virginia in the 1930's, after they were awarded a Pepsi-Cola franchise there; and

    Whereas, The Hunnicutt's Pepsi-Cola operation persevered through the Depression, World War II, a coal shortage in the late 1940’s and a major plant fire in 1964 to become a thriving and prosperous business. In the 1970's the Hunnicutts added additional Pepsi-Cola bottling franchises in Huntington and Parkersburg, and added other regional warehouses around the state; and

    Whereas, The Hunnicutt's Pepsi-Cola franchises were so successful they were eventually purchased by RKO Bottlers, a subsidiary of RKO Pictures of Hollywood, California; and

    Whereas, The Hunnicutts were investors and partners in numerous other successful business ventures in the Princeton area, and were also active in civic affairs; and

    Whereas, In 1987, H.P. Hunnicutt decided to use the success of his business operations to establish the H.P. and Anne S. Hunnicutt Foundation to give back to the community which had supported him and had helped his Pepsi business survive a depression, a war, a coal shortage and a fire; and

    Whereas, In 1988, the foundation provided funding for its first of many projects in the community when the Anne S. Hunnicutt Stadium was built, which is the home of the Princeton High School Tigers football team; and

    Whereas, Since that beginning, the H.P. and Anne S. Hunnicutt Foundation has provided major funding to numerous other important projects in southern West Virginia, including H.P. Hunnicutt Field, which is the home of the Princeton Rays minor league baseball team and the Princeton High School Tigers baseball team; the Ann "Dink" Stafford Princeton Public Library, which was a $4 million renovation project that turned a former post office into a beautiful new library; the Chuck Mathena Center, which is a modern, state of the art performing arts center; the Princeton High School Soccer Complex; the Mercer County Civil Air Patrol's new headquarters facility; and the Fellowship Hall of the First United Methodist Church; and

    Whereas, In addition to such major "brick and mortar" projects, the H.P. and Anne S. Hunnicutt Foundation has provided support for numerous other projects in southern West Virginia such as establishing wrestling programs at Princeton High School, Bluefield High School and Pikeview High School, and supported numerous charitable organizations such as the Salvation Army and the Tender Mercies Food Ministry; and

    Whereas, Sadly, Anne S. Hunnicutt passed away in 1989 and Harold P. Hunnicutt passed away in 1991, but their wonderful legacy continues today; and

    Whereas, Since their passing, the H.P. and Anne S. Hunnicutt Foundation has been administered by the Hunnicutt children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and today the Foundation continues to give back to the community as H.P. and Anne had envisioned at the Foundation's inception in 1987; and

    Whereas, The descendants of H.P. and Anne S. Hunnicutt who have continued the Foundation's work include their late children, Jodi Sarver and her husband, James "Buck" Sarver (also deceased), and Ann "Dink" Stafford and her husband, William "Bill" Stafford; their grandchildren and their wives, Mr. and Mrs. James "Jim" Sarver, Mr. and Mrs. William "Will" Stafford, and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph "Joe" Stafford; and their great-grandchildren and their wives, Mr. and Mrs. James "Rusty" Sarver and Mr. and Mrs. Adam Sarver; and

    Whereas, It is only fitting and proper that we hereby acknowledge the enduring contributions of Harold P. and Anne S. Hunnicutt and their descendants who have done so much to enrich the lives of the people of Princeton and greater southern West Virginia; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Division of Highways is requested to name a section of Rt. 104 in Princeton, West Virginia, beginning at the intersection with Rt. 20, known as the Princeton-Athens Crossroads, and extending west on Rt. 104 along Roger Street, Brick Street and Stafford Drive to the intersection with Rt. 19 at the corner of Stafford Drive and Courthouse Road, the "Hunnicutt Family Highway"; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is requested to have made, and be placed, signs identifying the highway as the "Hunnicutt Family Highway"; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways, to the City of Princeton, to William "Bill" Stafford, Mr. and Mrs. James "Jim" Sarver, Mr. and Mrs. William "Will" Stafford, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph "Joe" Stafford, Mr. and Mrs. James "Rusty" Sarver and Mr. and Mrs. Adam Sarver.