HCR 39 West Virginia House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Gold Star Mother Catherine Blake Highway

HCR 39 is a concurrent resolution requesting the West Virginia Division of Highways name a specific 0.5-mile stretch of Route 2 in Benwood (Marshall County) as the "Gold Star Mother Catherine Blake Highway." It directs the Division to install signs identifying the roadway with the name and two gold stars, honoring Catherine Blake who lost two sons in World War I - Edward Leo Blake (U.S.S. Cyclops, 1918) and William Thomas Blake (killed in action, 1918). The resolution commemorates Blake as Marshall County's only known "Double Gold Star Mother" and references the local American Legion post named in her sons' honor. This is a commemorative measure with no policy changes, solely focused on naming a highway segment.

Issues: ✓ Veterans

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 17, 2025 Last action Mar 19, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Version → Committee Substitute · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to clarify the historical details of William Thomas Blake's death by specifying the location and military context of his sacrifice during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. The version history was also updated to reflect the bill's progression from the Committee on Energy and Public Works rather than being referred to the committee.

Scope change

No change to the bill's scope or applicability; the changes are historical clarifications and procedural updates.

TECHNICAL

The description of William Thomas Blake's death was expanded to include specific details about the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in France, providing more historical context.

The version history was updated to show the bill originated in the Committee on Energy and Public Works and was reported on March 10, 2025, rather than being referred to the committee on February 17, 2025.

Floor votes · House of Delegates Mar 18, 2025

How they voted

98–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 100

Mar 18, 2025

D Democratic9

9 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican91

89 Yea 2

97% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 19, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in Senate

upper

Mar 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

Adopted by House (Roll No. 99)

lower

Mar 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Be adopted

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Committee

To House Rules

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

By substitute, do pass, but first to Rules

lower

Feb 17, 2025

Committee

To House Energy and Public Works

lower

Feb 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

1 primary · 4 co-sponsors