HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 33

(By Delegate Hamrick)

February 5, 2016

Requesting the Division of Highways to name Bridge Number 17-9-5.09 (17A350) (39.3443, -80.4013) locally known as Gregory Run Bridge carrying County Route 9 over Ten Mile Creek, in Harrison County, the "U.S. Army Air Force S/SGT Harold 'Dean' Baker Memorial Bridge".

Whereas, Harold “Dean” Baker was born on October 13, 1923, in Salem, West Virginia, the son of William Henry Baker and Mae Davis Baker. He enlisted in the U. S. Army Air Force on December 8, 1942, and received an honorable discharge on October 31, 1945. During his service he was a Staff Sergeant with the 15th Air Force of the 737th Bomb Squadron, 454th Bomb Group as an Aerial Gunner and Radio Operator. On April 21, 1944, while on a mission to bomb oil fields in Romania, the B-24 Bomber he was on developed engine problems and crash landed in Yugoslavia on its return. He was taken prisoner and was in Stalag Luft 3 in Poland and later taken to Nuremberg, Germany. He was liberated on April 25, 1945; and

Whereas, Harold “Dean” Baker married Georgia L. Elbon in 1946 and lived in Reynoldsville until his death on September, 2000. He retired as a self-employed carpenter at the age of 42, due to disabling arthritis, and other health problems. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 573, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 1, Barb-Wire Mountaineers, West Virginia ex-prisoners of war, and the Reynoldsville Baptist Church. He was survived by sons Kevin Baker and wife, Terri Baker, Sardis, West Virginia, Gary Baker and wife, Cheryl Baker, Reynoldsville, West Virginia, daughters Cathy Wells and husband, William Wells, Salem, West Virginia and a now deceased daughter Vicki Baker Bowers, eight grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren; and

Whereas, Naming the Bridge Number 17-9-5.09 (17A350) (39.3443, -80.4013) locally known as Gregory Run Bridge carrying County Route 9 over Ten Mile Creek, in Harrison, the "U.S. Army Air Force S/SGT Harold 'Dean' Baker Memorial Bridge" is an appropriate recognition of his contributions to his country, state, community and Harrison County; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name the Bridge Number 17-9-5.09 (17A350) (39.3443, -80.4013) locally known as Gregory Run Bridge carrying County Route 9 over Ten Mile Creek, in Harrison County, the "U.S. Army Air Force S/SGT Harold 'Dean' Baker Memorial Bridge"; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge as the “U.S. Army Air Force S/SGT Harold 'Dean' Baker Memorial Bridge"; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and the surviving relatives of Harold "Dean" Baker.