Bill Text: WV SCR51 | 2022 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Deputy Kenneth "Kenny" Ward Love, Sheriff Elvin Eugene "Pete" Wedge, and Jailer Ernest Ray "Ernie" Hesson Memorial Bridge
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2022-03-12 - House Message received [SCR51 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2022-SCR51-Introduced.html
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 51
(By Senator Grady)
[Introduced February 21, 2022]
Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 11351 (located at 38*46’52*N 82*04’13*W), carrying Route 35 over Lower Five-mile Creek in Mason County, the “Deputy Kenneth ‘Kenny’ Ward Love, Sheriff Elvin Eugene ‘Pete’ Wedge, and Jailer Ernest Ray ‘Ernie’ Hesson Memorial Bridge”.
Whereas, Mason County suffered a devastating tragedy on March 2, 1976, when three local law-enforcement officers lost their lives in the line of duty due to a bombing inside the Mason County Courthouse on Sixth Street in Point Pleasant, West Virginia; and
Whereas, Deputy Kenneth “Kenny” Ward Love was born in Point Pleasant, Mason County, West Virginia on April 14, 1940; and
Whereas, Deputy Kenneth “Kenny” Ward Love was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police – Tue-Endie-Wei #102 and Sheriffs Association of West Virginia. He was a Mason County Sheriff from 1974 to 1976; and
Whereas, Deputy Kenneth “Kenny” Ward Love was killed instantly in the line of duty during the Mason County Courthouse bombing on March 2, 1976; and
Whereas, Sheriff Elvin Eugene “Pete” Wedge was born June 19, 1927, in Point Pleasant, Mason County, West Virginia; and
Whereas, Sheriff Elvin Eugene “Pete” Wedge was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police – Tue-Endie-Wei #102 and Sheriffs Association of West Virginia. He was a Mason County Sheriff from 1974 to 1976; and
Whereas, Sheriff Elvin Eugene “Pete” Wedge convinced the Mason County bomber to release an inmate from her jail cell prior to the bombing, saving her life; and
Whereas, Sheriff Elvin Eugene “Pete” Wedge, in an adjoining cell at the time of the explosion, ultimately died from his injuries resulting from the blast on March 3, 1976; and
Whereas, Jailer Ernest Ray “Ernie” Hesson was born in Glenwood, Mason County, West Virginia on December 4, 1904. He devoted his life to a career in law enforcement, serving under several sheriffs and ultimately winning election as sheriff himself; and
Whereas, Jailer Ernest Ray “Ernie” Hesson was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police – Tue-Endie-Wei #102 and Sheriffs Association of West Virginia, and the United Brothers of Carpenters and Joiners of America; and
Whereas, Jailer Ernest Ray “Ernie” Hesson was serving as a county jailer on March 2, 1976, the day of the bombing. He was locked in a jail cell with the bomber at the time of the blast; and
Whereas, Jailer Ernest Ray “Ernie” Hesson ultimately died from injuries he sustained in the blast on March 9, 1976, after a week in intensive care; and
Whereas, All three men were honorable law-enforcement officers taken too soon due to this unfathomable tragedy; and
Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate these three men, their family, their sacrifice, and their 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 11351 (located at 38*46’52*N 82*04’13*W), carrying Route 35 over Lower Five-mile Creek in Mason County the “Deputy Kenneth ‘Kenny’ Ward Love, Sheriff Elvin Eugene ‘Pete’ Wedge, and Jailer Ernest Ray ‘Ernie’ Hesson Memorial Bridge”.; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge as the “Deputy Kenneth ‘Kenny’ Ward Love, Sheriff Elvin Eugene ‘Pete’ Wedge, and Jailer Ernest Ray ‘Ernie’ Hesson 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 and to the families of these three men.
