SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 22

(By Senators Woodrum and Deeds)

[Introduced January 30, 2024]

Requesting the Division of Highways name a portion of County Route 20, from 37.76953571727715, -80.89182448747788 to where Cooper Hollow Road connects with County Route 20, in Summers County, the "U. S. Army and Marine Corps Major and Olympic Gold Medalist Cornelius Burdette Memorial Road".

Whereas, Major Burdette was born in Sandstone, in Summers County on November 6, 1878; and

Whereas, Major Burdette served in both the United States Marine Corps and the Army, having served in the Philippines and the Far East, and was a member of the Cuban Expeditionary Force, retiring with the rank of Major in 1937; and

Whereas, it was during Major Burdette's service as a rifle instructor in the West Virginia National Guard that he was selected as one of a six-man team of the National Rifle Association to compete in the fifth Olympic Games in Stockholm, Sweden in 1912; and

Whereas, Major Burdette, firing a 1903 model Army Springfield rifle scored 288 of a possible 300 points and won the gold medal, and he was personally decorated by King Gustavus V of Sweden; and

Whereas, In 1908, Major Burdette was awarded the Distinguished Marksman Medal by the Marine Corps, its highest award for marksmanship; in 1953, Major Burdette was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by order of Governor Marland; and

Whereas, Major Burdette passed away at age 76 on April 30, 1955, in Charleston, West Virginia; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate Major Cornelius Burdette and his contributions to our state and country; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name a portion of County Route 20, from 37.76953571727715, -80.89182448747788 to where Cooper Hollow Road connects with County Route 20, in Summers County, the "U. S. Army and Marine Corps Major and Olympic Gold Medalist Cornelius Burdette Memorial Road"; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs at both ends identifying the portion of road as the "U. S. Army and Marine Corps Major and Olympic Gold Medalist Cornelius Burdette Memorial Road"; 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.