HCR 37 West Virginia House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

CPT Ray Leslie Memorial Bridge

HCR 37 is a memorial resolution requesting the West Virginia Division of Highways name a specific bridge (I-64 over Broad Hollow Road in Wayne County) the "CPT Ray Leslie Memorial Bridge." It honors Captain Ray Leslie, a WWII combat veteran who received the Combat Infantryman's Badge, France's Légion d'honneur, and served in key battles including Normandy and the Rhine River crossing. The resolution has no policy or funding impact - it solely seeks to commemorate his military service through a bridge name.

Issues: ✓ Veterans

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Governor

Introduced Feb 17, 2025 Last action Apr 3, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Version → Committee Substitute · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised from an Introduced Version to a Committee Substitute version, adding more specific details about the veteran's military service and correcting historical inaccuracies in the memorial designation. The changes include updating the bridge name to include 'U.S. Army' prefix, correcting the military rank progression in the narrative, and adding information about the Red Ball Express command experience.

Scope change

The scope of the memorial remains the same (naming a bridge), but the historical narrative and official designation have been expanded and corrected.

TECHNICAL

Bridge name changed from 'CPT Ray Leslie Memorial Bridge' to 'U.S. Army Captain Ray Leslie Memorial Bridge' for more formal designation

Military rank progression corrected throughout the narrative to accurately reflect Private to Sergeant to Second Lieutenant to Lieutenant to Captain

Added paragraph about Captain Leslie commanding a segregated unit in the Red Ball Express during WWII

Corrected military awards description from 'European Theater of Operations Service Ribbon' to 'European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal'

Corrected French honor from 'Légion d'honneur' to 'Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur'

Added note about Lieutenant Leslie staying with Allied Occupational Forces until 1947 after Europe war

Floor votes · House of Delegates Mar 18, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 2, 2025

Upper · Passed

Adopted by Senate (Voice vote)

upper

Apr 2, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported be adopted

upper

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 · 1 co-sponsor