Bill Text: WV HCR53 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: U. S. Army Air Corps T SGT Ralph H. Ray Memorial Bridge
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2020-03-05 - Completed legislative action [HCR53 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2020-HCR53-Introduced.html
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 53
(By Delegates Nelson, Byrd, Capito, Skaff, Robinson, Campbell and Lavender-Bowe)
[Introduced February 3, 2020]
Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 13-60-34.93 (13A114), locally known as Caldwell Bridge, carrying U. S. Route 60 over the Greenbrier River in Greenbrier County, the “U. S. Army Air Corps T SGT Ralph H. Ray Memorial Bridge”.
Whereas, Ralph H. Ray graduated from Frankford High School early at the age of 17 in 1940; and
Whereas, Ralph H. Ray left his home in West Virginia to complete his enlisted physical for the United States Army Air Corps on January 7, 1943, and subsequently earned the rank of Technical Sergeant; and
Whereas, T SGT Ray earned his airplane mechanic diploma at the Ford Factory in Michigan the spring of 1943 and then completed gunnery school in Laredo, Texas; and
Whereas, T SGT Ray was assigned to a top-notch flight crew with whom he trained for three months; and
Whereas, T SGT Ray and his crew traveled to Trinidad, Brazil, Africa, Morocco, and Wales before reaching the Tibenham Base in East England; and
Whereas, While serving as flight engineer, T SGT Ray and his crew flew 30 successful missions before returning to the United States; and
Whereas, T SGT Ray spent the last 10 months of his enlistment at Air Transport Corps in Miami, Florida; and
Whereas, After his release from the United States Army Air Corps, T SGT Ray worked as an airplane mechanic for Bollinger Airport in Davis Creek, West Virginia, and there he earned his civilian pilot’s license; and
Whereas, T SGT Ray began working as a chemical technician for Westvaco in South Charleston, West Virginia in 1948; and
Whereas, T SGT Ray married his wife Mary Madeline Hudson (now deceased) on April 16, 1948, established a beautiful and loving family with four daughters: Valerie Ann Lyons, Angela Sue Ray, Verna Ray-Breaux, and Anita Ray-Kirk; and
Whereas, T SGT Ray retired in 1984 and passed on August 8, 2019; and
Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring monument be established to commemorate Technical Sergeant Ralph H. Ray 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 bridge number 13-60-34.93 (13A114), locally known as Caldwell Bridge, carrying U. S. Route 60 over the Greenbrier River in Greenbrier County, the “U. S. Army Air Corps T SGT Ralph H. Ray Memorial Bridge”; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to erect signs containing bold and prominent letters identifying the bridge as the “U. S. Army Air Corps T SGT Ralph H. Ray Memorial Bridge”; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.
