Bill Text: CA SCR50 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: CHP Officer Raymond Carpenter Memorial Interchange.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2010-08-04 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Res. Chapter 64, Statutes of 2010. [SCR50 Detail]
Download: California-2009-SCR50-Chaptered.html
BILL NUMBER: SCR 50 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
RESOLUTION CHAPTER 64
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE AUGUST 4, 2010
ADOPTED IN SENATE AUGUST 24, 2009
ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 2, 2010
AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 8, 2009
INTRODUCED BY Senator Cox
JUNE 22, 2009
Relative to the CHP Officer Raymond Carpenter Memorial
Interchange.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SCR 50, Cox. CHP Officer Raymond Carpenter Memorial Interchange.
This measure would designate a specified interchange on Interstate
Highway 80 in Placer County as the CHP Officer Raymond Carpenter
Memorial Interchange. The measure would also request that the
Department of Transportation determine the cost for appropriate signs
showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from
nonstate sources covering that cost, to erect those signs.
WHEREAS, Raymond Roy Carpenter was born on July 15, 1929, in the
Wolf area of Placer County, between Auburn and Grass Valley. He was
the firstborn son to Guy Roy Carpenter and Mamie L. Eddington. He was
born in a small cabin with no inside plumbing and no electricity.
The Carpenter family moved shortly after his birth to the Sullivan
Ranch in Auburn, where Ray's father was the foreman. Ray learned the
ways of a ranch hand, working with cattle, sheep, and the many
different orchards at the ranch. In 1943 the family moved again to
831 Old Route 5 (now Dairy Road) in Auburn, a house which Ray later
owned and which is owned and resided in by Ray's sister Pearl
Burkett; and
WHEREAS, Ray attended Placer High School and that is where his
interest in the military began. He was a member of the Junior Reserve
Officer Training Corps (JROTC). Ray graduated from Placer High and
immediately joined the United States Air Force, serving as an
enlisted man specializing in weather forecast and analysis. He was
stationed in Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois, later in Virginia
during which he changed his career field to security police. His last
post was Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska. Alaska was a territory
and not a state at the time, and Ray had the opportunity to be a
homesteader, which meant that he homesteaded a piece of property,
building a cabin with his own hands and living in it. Ray was an avid
hunter and fisherman, so this suited his lifestyle perfectly. Ray
served during the Korean War, and his service qualified him for
membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) organization. Ray
was honorably discharged from the United States Air Force as a
Technical Sergeant; and
WHEREAS, Ray joined the Department of the California Highway
Patrol (CHP) soon after his discharge from the United States Air
Force. He was initially assigned to Bakersfield. He transferred to
the Truckee area office and finally made his way to the Auburn
office. Ray was soon back at home in the Auburn area patrolling the
roads in his hometown. His widow Pat said that law enforcement and
the CHP suited Ray perfectly, due to his great respect for authority.
Ray's friend and coworker, retired officer Jim Mayhorn, relates that
he and Ray were also very active in the early days of the Civil Air
Patrol Squadron 60 in Auburn. Jim said that Ray was an aircraft
observer and would often go up and assist with search and rescue
missions in the area; and
WHEREAS, Other than his seven-year service in the United States
Air Force and the beginning of his CHP career, Ray lived in the
Auburn area his whole life; and
WHEREAS, In the early 1960s, Ray ran for the State Senate seat for
the district that covers Auburn, and narrowly lost in his bid
against the incumbent, Ron Cameron. His wife Pat said that he ran for
the Senate strictly because he disagreed with the incumbent and felt
he could do a better job; and
WHEREAS, Ray is described by all who knew him as the kind of guy
who would look to help another out. When he came across someone less
fortunate and in need, he would easily provide the person a ride, or
a burger at the local burger place, or even take the person home for
a couple of days to get the person back on his or her feet; and
WHEREAS, Pat tells the story of Ray and Ken Lawton. Ray pulled Ken
over one Saturday morning for extremely high speed on eastbound
State Highway Route 80. The young United States Navy sailor
explained, after a short pursuit and being handcuffed at gunpoint,
that he was on a weekend pass and was attempting to go home to Provo,
Utah. Ray explained that even if Ken didn't splatter himself and his
motorcycle all over the Nevada desert and made it all the way home,
he would only have 20 minutes with his family and have to turn around
and come back. Ray convinced Ken to stay. He let Ken sleep on the
couch at his house, and took him on a ride along with the patrol the
next day. They became fast friends. Ray was an inspiration to Ken and
after his tour with the United States Navy was over, Ken joined the
Utah Highway Patrol (UHP). Ken retired as a captain with the UHP a
few years ago, and he recounts that one of his prize possessions is
Ray's service revolver, presented to him by Pat after Ray's death;
and
WHEREAS, On February 17, 1970, Ray Carpenter, a California Highway
Patrol officer and loyal servant to the State of California, died
after being shot by the driver of a vehicle he had stopped; and
WHEREAS, At the time of his death, Ray was a member of the Eureka
Lodge No. 16, the Auburn lodge of the Freemasons. Ray reached the
level of Master Mason within the lodge; and
WHEREAS, Ray held the rank of Commander with the VFW (VFW Post
1942) and it was this post that performed funeral services for Ray;
and
WHEREAS, Ray loved motorcycles, and would often be seen around
town on his Suzuki, with wife Pat riding behind him; and
WHEREAS, Ray enjoyed outdoor life, and would often take the whole
family camping at Lake Valley Reservoir; and
WHEREAS, Ray cared for his elderly parents until the end of their
lives, moving them into a house nearby so that he could care for
them; and
WHEREAS, The house is still owned by his sister Pearl Burkett, who
describes Ray as her "protector," noting that she would not be
allowed to date anyone without Ray's approval. He would even take her
on some of his dates, just so she could have fun; and
WHEREAS, Ray Carpenter was a loyal servant to the State of
California for 13 years and seven months. He left behind his lovely
wife Patricia Carpenter and his daughter Mammie Carpenter. From his
first wife, Laurel Wibberley, he left behind five children: David
Allen Carpenter, Paul Raymond Carpenter, John Alvin Carpenter, Debra
Lynn Carpenter, and Beckey Joy Carpenter. He left behind four
stepchildren: Jeffrey Brian Wibberley, John Daniel Wibberley, Greg
Francis Wibberley, and Tommy Allen Wibberley. He also left behind his
sister Pearl Burkett; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates the
Rocklin Road interchange on Interstate Highway 80 in Placer County as
the CHP Officer Raymond Carpenter Memorial Interchange; and be it
further
Resolved, That the Department of Transportation is requested to
determine the cost of appropriate signs, consistent with the signing
requirements for the state highway system, showing that special
designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources
covering that cost, to erect those signs; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the Department of Transportation and to the author for
appropriate distribution.
