With construction to be completed in 2016, the State of West Virginia has officially named the bridge connecting Camp 70 Road to the NYSF’s property south of the Blackwater Rive, the Judge Ronald G. Pearson Bridge.
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 56
(By Senators Williams, Sypolt, Stollings, Ashley, Unger and Plymale)
Requesting Division of Highways to name future bridge, located at latitude 39.14167, longitude ‑79.42482, to carry currently unassigned county route over the Blackwater River in Tucker County from its junction with county route 32/18, the “Judge Ronald G. Pearson Bridge”.
Whereas, Ronald G. Pearson was born June 15, 1942, in Fairmont, West Virginia, to Gilbert Sidney and Catherine Evans Pearson; and
Whereas, Ronald G. Pearson received his college education at West Virginia University where, among other achievements, he distinguished himself by becoming chair of the Interfraternity Council in 1965, being inducted into the Summit of Mountain Honor Society in 1966 and by chairing the statue committee that selected the sculptor, Donald DeLue, to create the West Virginia Mountaineer statue; and
Whereas, After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering, Ronald G. Pearson continued his education at the West Virginia University College of Law, where he received a Juris Doctor degree in 1968; and
Whereas, Ronald G. Pearson began a distinguished career in law and government following his admission to the West Virginia Bar in 1968, including service as the Director of Local Government Relations for the State Tax Department, the Commissioner of the Department of Finance and Administration, the State Treasurer and culminating in his appointment as a United States Bankruptcy Judge, serving in this position for thirty-two years; and
Whereas, In his service with the state, Ronald G. Pearson oversaw the inventory and mapping of all land and mineral resources of the state, calculated actuarial values for all state pension and compensation funds to report, monitor and control the state’s long-term debt and he identified and invested previously unvested funds now amounting to $400,000,000 which continue to yield ongoing income for the state; and
Whereas, In his service as Judge of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Judge Pearson also served as Treasurer for the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges, President of the Bankruptcy Judges Council for the Fourth Circuit, and as a member of the Fourth Circuit Judicial Council and the Committee on the Administrative Office of the Judicial Conference of the United States, and he was also honored with the Bierce Distinguished Service Award by the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges; and
Whereas, Judge Pearson has also volunteered substantial amounts of his time to the operation and success of the National Youth Science Foundation, an organization that he helped to found in 1983 and that he has continued to serve as a member of its board of trustees since its founding; and
Whereas, The National Youth Science Foundation, based here in West Virginia, operates the renowned National Youth Science Camp and, this fall, will implement the Youth Science Discovery Experience program for West Virginia students to last through the academic year; and
Whereas, The National Youth Science Foundation inspires lifelong engagement and ethical leadership in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and related professions through its proven educational model for mentoring, challenging, and motivating students; and
Whereas, A bridge is now being built over the Blackwater River to provide access to the newly established National Youth Science Center, a facility dedicated to state and national education programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and a facility that would not exist without the dedication and efforts of Judge Ronald Pearson through many years; and
Whereas, It is fitting that Judge Pearson be honored by dedicating this bridge in recognition of his contributions to law, government, finance, education and to the people of West Virginia and the youth of this country; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Division of Highways name a future bridge, located at latitude 39.14167, longitude ‑79.42482, to carry a currently unassigned county route over the Blackwater River in Tucker County from its junction with county route 32/18, as the “Judge Ronald G. Pearson 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 “Judge Ronald G. Pearson 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 honoree, Judge Ronald G. Pearson.
