07/08/2025
On the 84th birthday of the late Tom Bill Dudley, a ceremony was held next to Dick Gunnoe Memorial Park’s baseball/softball field this evening officially renaming the Greenbrier Avenue Bridge as the new U.S. Army SP4 Thomas William “Tom Bill” Dudley, Sr. Memorial Bridge.
I appreciate the help of my co-sponsors of HCR 56, Delegate Ray Canterbury and Delegate Roy Cooper, along with the City of White Sulphur Springs, Mr. Bo Belshee and the Dudley family for their work in this lasting memorial to Tom Bill, who served his country in the United States Army and his hometown of White Sulphur Springs for over 50 years through City Council and many youth sports leagues and teams in the Spa City.
Tom Bill Dudley impacted about three generations of kids in White Sulphur and will be remembered by many for decades to come.
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 56
(By Delegates Campbell, Canterbury, and Cooper)
[Originating in the Committee on Energy and Public Works; Reported on March 13, 2025]
Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number: 13-060/87-000.15 () (13A243), (37.79351, -80.30456) locally known as Greenbrier Avenue Bridge, carrying CR 060/87 over Howard Creek in Greenbrier County, the "U.S. Army SP4 Thomas William "Tom Bill" Dudley, Sr. Memorial Bridge".
Whereas, Thomas William "Tom Bill" Dudley, Sr. was born on July 7, 1941 in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, the son of Cora G. Dudley and Conley B. Dudley; and
Whereas, Thomas William "Tom Bill" Dudley, Sr. graduated from White Sulphur Springs High School with the class of 1960, and was a lifelong resident of White Sulphur Springs; and
Whereas, U.S. Army SP4 Dudley joined the Army in 1961 and served our country in Germany during the building of the Berlin Wall; and
Whereas, When he returned home in 1964, U.S. Army SP4 Dudley began leading a troop with the boy scouts, and became a Sunday school teacher at the Presbyterian Church in town. He began coaching little league baseball for the White Sulphur Springs Raiders which led to a long career refereeing and umpiring elementary, middle school, high school, and college basketball, football and baseball. He was one of the officials for the first basketball game held at Greenbrier East; and
Whereas, U.S. Army SP4 Dudley is responsible for the youth football league and the youth basketball league being started in White Sulphur Springs. He was the founding member of the Hackers at Valley View Country Club. He was a committed possession keeper for Greenbrier East Basketball for many years; and
Whereas, U.S. Army SP4 Dudley served two terms on the White Sulphur Springs city council during the 1980's; and
Whereas, U.S. Army SP4 Dudley also faithfully attended church at The Redemption Center within the civic center in White Sulphur Springs; and
Whereas, U.S. Army SP4 Dudley retired from Mead Westvaco in 2003; and
Whereas, U.S. Army SP4 Dudley died on March 14, 2017; he was survived by daughter Mandy "Tine" Dudley Howard and her husband Michael "Stuff" Howard, son Thomas William "Boy Dudley" Dudley Jr. and wife Jacqueline "Jack o lantern" Allen Dudley of Lewisburg, West Virginia; and
Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate U.S. Army SP4 Thomas William "Tom Bill" Dudley, Sr and his 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: 13-060/87-000.15 () (13A243), (37.79351, -80.30456) locally known as Greenbrier Avenue Bridge, carrying CR 060/87 over Howard Creek in Greenbrier County, the " U.S. Army SP4 Thomas William "Tom Bill" Dudley, Sr. Memorial Bridge".
Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge as the " U.S. Army SP4 Thomas William "Tom Bill" Dudley, Sr. Memorial Bridge"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.
