Bill Text: WV HCR77 | 2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: U.S.A.F. Lt Col Frederick Donald Belknap Memorial Bridge
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-02-22 - To House Technology and Infrastructure [HCR77 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2019-HCR77-Introduced.html
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 77
(By Delegate Linville)
[Introduced February 22, 2019]
Requesting the Division of Highways to name bridge number 17-79-119.96 (17A318), locally known as Lodgeville I-79 Bridge, carrying IS 79 over CR 50/16, 50/25 and Railroad in Harrison county, the “U.S.A.F. Lt Col Frederick Donald Belknap Memorial Bridge”.
Whereas, Frederick Donald Belknap was born July 31, 1929, on a farm on Little Termite Creek, two miles west of Wallace, in Harrison County, West Virginia. His parents were Dewey and Thelma Belknap. He graduated from Wallace High School in 1948 and attended West Virginia University from 1948 – 1953, where he worked as a waiter in Terrace Hall, a women’s residence hall, to earn his meals; and
Whereas, Upon graduation from West Virginia University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, Frederick Donald Belknap was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force, having participated in reserve officer training while at the University; and
Whereas, Frederick Donald Belknap married Hester “Hedy” Ogden also of Wallace, West Virginia, on September 10, 1951. The couple had four children; and
Whereas, Frederick Donald Belknap enjoyed a nearly 25-year long career in the Air Force, being trained as a navigator, graduating first in his class, later rated Master Navigator, and rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel; and
Whereas, During his career Lt Col Belknap flew in missions worldwide in C124 “GlobeMaster” aircraft, participating in troop carrier and cargo missions to Germany and the rest of Europe. In 1957 he was involved in airlifting U. S. Marines to Lebanon on orders of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and carried out other missions in Greece, Egypt, Jordan, Libya and Morocco. In 1959, Colonel Belknap was trained as a missile launch officer and served as a Nuclear Missile Launch Officer in Germany from 1961 to 1964. Following various assignments stateside, Colonel Belknap was assigned to Saigon, Vietnam, in 1970 where he served as psychological warfare officer with the Joint United States Public Affairs Office until June, 1974; and
Whereas, Upon returning from Vietnam, Colonel Belknap was assigned to Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia, from where he flew missions in Southeast Asia. At the time of his retirement in 1977, Colonel Belknap had flown thousands of miles in C124, C119, and C130 aircraft, including combat missions, and had been awarded a Bronze Star; and
Whereas, After his Air Force career, Colonel Belknap and his wife returned to Harrison County where he served as personnel coordinator for District 4 of the West Virginia Department of Highways from 1978 to 1989. He was a member of the West Milford Lions Club and VFW, and served as a leader for his grandson’s Boy Scout Troop and was inducted into the Order of the Arrow. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, camping, gathering with old friends from all over, and attending Mountaineer football games. Colonel Belknap died February 23, 2017, at the age of 87, having lived a life of service to his country, his community and his family; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 17-79-119.96 (17A318), locally known as Lodgeville I-79 Bridge, carrying IS 79 over CR 50/16, 50/25 and Railroad in Harrison county, the “U.S.A.F. Lt Col Frederick Donald Belknap 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.A.F. Lt. Col. Frederick Donald Belknap Memorial Bridge”; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.
