SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 51

(By Senator Stollings)

Requesting the Division of Highways to name bridge number 23-11/3-0.909 on Route 80 in Man, Logan County, West Virginia, the “Cox Joe Gollie Memorial Bridge”.

    Whereas, Mr. Joe Gollie was born on April 10, 1924, to Bruno and Pricie (May) Gollie in Mingo County, West Virginia; and

    Whereas, Mr. Joe Gollie spent most of his life in Logan County, residing and attending schools in Man, West Virginia; and

    Whereas, Mr. Gollie entered the U.S. Navy on August 4, 1942, serving as an armed guard and, throughout his service, participating in the Pacific, the European and the North African theaters of operation; and

    Whereas, While in the United States Navy, Mr. Joe Gollie achieved the rank of Coxswain (Cox) and was an E-4 Boatswain’s Mate; and

    Whereas, Mr. Gollie, in 1944, was a sailor on the U.S. Armed Merchant Vessel S.S. Andrew G. Curtain when it was sunk in action by a German submarine on January 26, 1944, while on Murmansk Run in the North Atlantic Ocean; and

    Whereas, During the sinking of the S.S. Andrew G. Curtain, Mr. Gollie abandoned ship in the cold waters of the North Atlantic and was picked up by the HMS Inconstant which took him to Vaenga, Russia, on January 28, 1944; and

    Whereas, After being transported by ship to Vaenga, Russia, Mr. Gollie was taken by tugboat to Murmansk, Russia, on January 29, 1944; and

    Whereas, The S.S. Phillip Livingston took Mr. Gollie from Murmansk, Russia, to Gourock, Scotland, arriving on March 13, 1944, and, from here, Mr. Gollie boarded the S.S. Albert C. Ritchie on April 1, 1944, arriving in New York on April 3, 1944; and

    Whereas, Following his return to the states in April, 1944, Mr. Gollie served on the U.S. Armed Merchant Vessel S.S. William Webb and the U.S. Armed Merchant Vessel S.S. Charles Wilson Peale; and

    Whereas, Coxswain Joe Gollie received an honorable discharge from the United States Navy in 1945; and

    Whereas, Mr. Gollie was awarded several medals for his service to our state, nation and world including the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Bronze Star, the Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal; and

    Whereas, When not engaged in protecting our nation, our lives and our values, Mr. Gollie continued to serve his state and his country as a lifelong coal miner in Logan County, West Virginia, marrying Mildred Frances Montgomery and having two children, Joseph S. Gollie and Sheila Rene (Combs) Gollie; and

    Whereas, Mr. Joe Gollie served his country and his state with honor and distinction and ready to give the ultimate sacrifice if need be; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 23-11/3-0.909 on Route 80 in Man, Logan County, West Virginia, the “Cox Joe Gollie Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of Highways is hereby requested to erect signs at both ends of the bridge containing bold and prominent letters proclaiming the bridge the “Cox Joe Gollie Memorial Bridge”; 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, to Mr. Gollie’s children, Joseph S. Gollie of Danville, West Virginia, and Shelia Rene (Combs) Gollie of Man, West Virginia, and to the Daniel Boone VFW Post 5578.