Bill Text: WV HCR45 | 2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: U. S. Navy MM2 Carl E. Keeney, U. S. Navy SN1 Frank Keeney and U.S. Army PFC Carl M. Nicholas Memorial Bridge
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-01-31 - To House Technology and Infrastructure [HCR45 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2019-HCR45-Introduced.html
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 45
(By Delegates Miller, Tomblin, Rodighiero, Westfall and Maynard)
[Introduced January 31, 2019]
Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 03-3/14-0.10 (03A196), locally known as New Kirbyton Bridge, carrying CR 3/14 over Big Coal River in Boone County, the “U. S. Navy MM2 Carl E. Keeney, U. S. Navy SN1 Frank Keeney and U.S. Army PFC Carl M. Nicholas Memorial Bridge”.
Whereas, Carl Eugene Keeney was born to Dewey and Ruth Skeens Keeney on March 27, 1925, in Seth, West Virginia; he learned to repair engines and vehicles at an early age and became skilled as a machinist and when this country sought skilled tradesmen in its armed forces, he enlisted in the United States Navy in 1942, eventually attaining the rating of Machinist’s Mate Second Class; and
Whereas, MM2 Keeney served over three years in the Pacific Theater and saw combat in the Solomon Islands and at Okinawa; he was awarded three battle stars before he was honorably discharged in 1946; and
Whereas, After faithfully and honorably serving his country, MM2 Keeney applied his machinist’s skills in the coal industry, working as a driver, mechanic and machinist in Boone County until his retirement; and
Whereas, After a life well lived in service to his community and his country, MM2 Keeney passed away on June 26, 2018; and
Whereas, Frank Keeney was born to Dewey and Ruth Skeens Keeney on June 10, 1927, in Seth, West Virginia; he left high school early as he entered the United States armed forces at the age of 16, by enlisting in the United States Navy in 1944, eventually attaining the rating of Seaman First Class; and
Whereas, SN1 Keeney, a World War II veteran, served over seven years in the Pacific Theater and earned combat ribbons from action in Iwo Jima, Okinawa and the Dutch East Indies before he was honorably discharged in 1951; and
Whereas, After faithfully and honorably serving his country, SN1 Keeney began an athletic career in the minor league baseball farm system of the Cleveland Indians where he earned the nickname “Fireball”, until his retirement and continued with the organization as batting practice pitcher and part time scout from 1951 until 1970 well after the age of 60; and
Whereas, After a life well lived in service to his community and his country, SN1 Keeney passed away on March 1, 2018; and
Whereas, Carl M. Nicholas was born to Dan and Frona Cottrell Nicholas on September 27, 1922, in Bickmore, West Virginia, and though he left school after eight years to help support his family, he became quite accomplished in a mining career that spanned five decades in the coalfields of Southern West Virginia; and
Whereas, PFC Nicholas answered his nation’s call to service, joining the United States Army in World War II in the European Theater of Operations, where he was assigned to Company I, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division from May 16, 1944, to September, 1945, where he participated in the Invasion of Normandy on D-Day and in the Battle of the Bulge; and
Whereas, PFC Carl M. Nicholas was wounded in action on June 26, 1944, when he received and survived bullet wounds from a German sniper and for which he was awarded the Purple Heart; he also was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement in active ground combat; and
Whereas, Upon his return to civilian life, PFC Nicholas continued his mining career with some of the most prominent companies in the industry and he became a successful businessman as proprietor of his own trucking company; he continued to support military veterans and was a leader of the effort to secure dedicated parking for veterans at our State Capitol; and
Whereas, After a life well lived in service to his community and his country, PFC Nicholas passed away on September 3, 2014; and
Whereas, Recognizing that MM2 Carl Eugene Keeney, SN1 Frank Keeney and PFC Carl M. Nicholas are lifelong residents of Boone County on Big Coal River, it is an appropriate recognition of their contributions to their country, state, community and Boone County to name a bridge over the Big Coal River in their honor; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 03-3/14-0.10 (03A196), locally known as New Kirbyton Bridge, carrying CR 3/14 over Big Coal River in Boone County, the “U. S. Navy MM2 Carl E. Keeney, U. S. Navy SN1 Frank Keeney and U. S. Army PFC Carl M. Nicholas 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 as the “U. S. Navy MM2 Carl E. Keeney, U. S. Navy SN1 Frank Keeney and U. S. Army PFC Carl M. Nicholas Memorial Bridge”; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.
