Bridge to be named in honor of the late Tim Farley | News | bdtonline.com

 

PRINCETON — A bridge dedication ceremony will be conducted in June to honor the life of a Mercer County citizen who served his community both as a firefighter and an emergency services director.

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A dedication ceremony will be conducted June 28 at 11 a.m. to name a Spanishburg-area bridge after the late Tim Farley, according to County Commissioner Bill Archer. The bridge is located near Farley’s home at the intersection of Gardner Road and Route 19.

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Farley, who was Mercer County Emergency Services Director and Chief of the Bluestone Valley Volunteer Fire Department, died suddenly, Jan. 23, 2021.

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When COVID-19 reached Mercer County, Farley played a crucial role in making sure local clinics, hospitals and the Mercer County Health Department had personal protection equipment (PPE) and other supplies they needed in order to protect themselves while treating the sick.

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In December 2021, Farley was honored posthumously by being named one of 2021 honorees receiving the West Virginia Freedom Award.

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Started in 2020, the awards recognize emergency officials in six categories: lifesaving, innovation, teamwork, perseverance, leadership and lifetime achievement. Farley was presented the award in the lifesaving category.

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Delegate Marty Gearheart R-Mercer, sponsored the bill needed to have the bridge named in Farley’s honor. The bill was introduced last year, but it did not pass.

“This year we were blessed to get it through,” Archer said.

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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 61

(By Delegates Gearheart, Ellington, Maynor, and Smith)

[February 11, 2022]

 

Requesting the Division of Highways name Bridge Number: 28-019/00-020.58 () (28A187), (37.43298, -81.11005) locally known as GARDNER ROAD BRIDGE, carrying US 19 over BLUESTONE RIVER in Mercer County, the “Timothy Wayne Farley Memorial Bridge”.

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Whereas, Timothy Wayne Farley, a Spanishburg native, founding Chief of the Bluestone Valley Volunteer Fire Department and 16-year veteran as the Mercer County Emergency Management Director and Flood Plain Manager died suddenly and unexpectedly on January 23, 2021, at the age of 64. Tim is survived by his wife, Debbie; son, Lt. Col. Matthew Tad Farley, USAir Force; his wife Rebecca and their three children; and

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Whereas, Tim was a devoted community servant with a life-long commitment to service that shown brightly during his teenage years when he led the Spanishburg High School Wildcats to an undefeated 20-0 season in 1974 and earned All-Area Team honors. He continued that commitment to excellence in college where he played basketball for the Bluefield State Big Blues earning All-West Virginia Conference Honorable Mention honors in 1976 and later graduated with a dual degree in electrical engineering and business administration; and

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Whereas, Tim and his childhood sweetheart, Debbie (Henry) Farley, lived and worked in the Spanishburg area. While Tim worked various jobs including truck driver, he and his wife owned and operated the Valley General store across US Route 19 from the high school. The Farleys dedicated their lives to raising their son, Matthew and serving their community. Tim took a leadership role in the effort to establish the Bluestone Valley Volunteer Fire Department and became the department’s first chief - a role he still held at the time of his death; and

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Whereas, In 2005, Tim was appointed to serve as Mercer County Emergency Services Director/FIood Plain Manager. His education, life experiences, dedication to helping others and willingness to meet intense challenges during times of trouble combined to earn him the highest level of respect locally, statewide, and regionally in emergency service circles. His calm demeanor and clarity of focus were called to the forefront during the period of local, regional, national, and international emergency during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tim’s steadfast heart and unyielding focus gave guidance and comfort to all those he worked tirelessly to help during this time of uncertainty. A Christian soldier at heart, Tim’s life of service appeared to be driven by the words in Isaiah 6:8 - Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am l. Send me”; and

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Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate Timothy Wayne Farley and his contributions to our state and country; therefore, be it

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Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name Bridge Number: 28-019/00-020.58 () (28A187), (37.43298, -81.11005) locally known as Gardner Road Bridge, carrying US 19 over Bluestone River in Mercer County, the “Timothy Wayne Farley Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

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Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge as the “Timothy Wayne Farley Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

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Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.