HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 739 Offered January 10, 2007 Prefiled January 10, 2007 Commending Clyde W. Bowling. ---------- Patrons-- Bowling and Crockett-Stark; Senator: Puckett ----------

WHEREAS, on the occasion of his 95th birthday, Clyde W. Bowling is recognized for his longtime public service to the citizens of Bluefield and Tazewell County; and

WHEREAS, Clyde Bowling was born on February 26, 1912, moved as a young boy with his family to Graham, which is now Bluefield, and graduated from Graham High School in 1931; and

WHEREAS, in 1933 and 1934, Clyde Bowling was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps and worked at the Beltsville, Maryland, research center and in other forestry projects; and

WHEREAS, Clyde Bowling served his country in the United States Army during World War II in the European Theater assigned to the Combat Engineers, 99th Division, and the 743 Railroad Battalion building railroads in Germany and Belgium; and

WHEREAS, over the years, Clyde Bowling has done much to improve the quality of life of his fellow citizens in Tazewell County; and

WHEREAS, for over 30 years, Clyde Bowling served as a Boy Scout leader of Troop 144 and received several awards, including the coveted Silver Beaver Award, which is awarded for distinguished service to young people within a Boy Scout local council; and

WHEREAS, Clyde Bowling was elected treasurer of Bluefield in 1962 and served as a board member of the Cumberland plateau Planning District for 13 years; and

WHEREAS, Clyde Bowling was invaluable in the establishment of the Mountain Dominion Resource Conservation and Development Area (RC & D) and served as its chairman until the organization united with the New River-Highlands RC & D, which he also served as chairman; and

WHEREAS, Clyde Bowling served in all of the offices of the State Association of RC & D Councils, as second vice-president of the Southeast Association of RC & D Councils for several years, and was named to the Virginia State Association of RC & D Hall of Fame; he was also an enthusiastic member of Earth Team, which helps to encourage a new generation of environmental leaders; and

WHEREAS, Clyde Bowling diligently worked with the Tazewell County Transportation Safety Commission for 40 years to make highway improvements and increase safety and was a member of the Tazewell County Soil and Water Conservation Board in the early 1960s; and

WHEREAS, Clyde Bowling has been a longtime member of the American Legion Post #122, the Masonic Lodge #122, the Graham High School Athletic Booster Club, the Bluefield Business and Professional Association, and a charter member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9696; and

WHEREAS, Clyde Bowling has been a faithful member of the Virginia Avenue Methodist Church since the 1920s, and for many years taught the Elderly Men’s Sunday School Class and served his community through the many missions of the Methodist Men’s Club; and

WHEREAS, in honor of Clyde Bowling's numerous contributions to his community, the General Assembly passed legislation in 1999 naming the new bridge, which spans the railroad and the Bluestone River on Route 102 in Tazewell County at Falls Mills, the Clyde Bowling Bridge; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend and congratulate Clyde W. Bowling on his outstanding public service to Bluefield and Tazewell County; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Clyde W. Bowling as an expression of the General Assembly’s gratitude for his longtime public service and best wishes on his 95th birthday.