03/18/1998 01:10 PM House TRA

SB 211 - RENAMING VET MEM BRIDGE IN KETCHIKAN                                  
                                                                               
Number 0953                                                                    
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS announced the committee would hear SB 211, "An               
Act renaming the Gravina Veterans' Memorial Bridge as the Ralph M.             
Bartholomew Veterans' Memorial Bridge," sponsored by Senator                   
Taylor.                                                                        
                                                                               
Number 0981                                                                    
                                                                               
PETE ECKLUND, Legislative Assistant to Representative Bill                     
Williams, Alaska State Legislature, read the following statement               
into the record on behalf of Senator Taylor:                                   
                                                                               
"In 1989, as Senate Bill 37 was moving through the Alaska State                
House of Representatives, an amendment was added designating the               
bridge to be built across the Tongass Narrows at Ketchikan as the              
Gravina Veterans' Memorial Bridge.                                             
                                                                               
"This amendment was offered at the suggestion of Ralph Bartholomew,            
a life-long resident of Ketchikan, a noted civic leader, and a                 
veteran of Wold War II.  Ralph was also the leading proponent of               
the construction of a bridge connecting Ketchikan with its airport.            
                                                                               
"Ralph Bartholomew passed away last fall at age 74, without seeing             
his dream of a bridge become reality.  It is only appropriate that             
the bridge be named for its greatest supporter and become known as             
the Ralph Bartholomew Veterans' Memorial Bridge.                               
                                                                               
"Ralph was born in Ketchikan in 1923 and graduated from Ketchikan              
High School in 1941.  That fall his studies at the University of               
Texas were interrupted by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.  He             
tried to enlist in the Army Air Corps, but needed parental consent.            
He returned to Ketchikan to enlist and spent nearly three of the               
next four years in the Aleutians.                                              
                                                                               
"In 1946, he joined his father in the family business and remained             
with Ireland Transfer and Storage until its sale in 1996.  He was              
elected chief of the Ketchikan Volunteer Fire Department in 1958               
and served for six years.  It was during that period that                      
disastrous arson fires plagued downtown Ketchikan changing the face            
of the community.  Working with city police and the state fire                 
marshall, Bartholomew was able to bring the fire bug to justice in             
1961.                                                                          
                                                                               
"Ralph served on the school board and planning commission and then             
on the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly.  He was elected borough             
mayor in 1990.  Ralph Bartholomew served in most every volunteer               
organization in his community and as president of the Eleventh Air             
Force Association.  For more than the last decade, he championed               
the construction of a bridge to Gravina Island linking the                     
community with its airport.  His advocacy inspired many in his                 
community and the bridge project comes closer to reality with time.            
When it is completed, this span should serve as a legacy of a true             
community leader and be named in his honor and the honor of all                
veterans."                                                                     
                                                                               
Number 1127                                                                    
                                                                               
JOHN "JACK" SHAY, Mayor, Ketchikan Gateway Borough, testified via              
teleconference from Ketchikan.  He said Ralph's history in the                 
Ketchikan community is extensive and his support of many civic                 
projects is almost legendary.  Mr. Shay stated Ralph enjoyed a                 
great deal of respect and admiration from all of the populous.  He             
was a military advocate and veteran.  Ralph was active in many                 
local events and was a father and grandfather.                                 
                                                                               
MR. SHAY said he was not always a believer in the bridge.  He                  
recollected teaching a class at the university a few years ago and             
he asked Ralph to come in and address the class to talk about some             
of the issues he had been involved in as well as the airport                   
location and bridge.  When Ralph got through explaining the fine               
location of the local airport and the need for a hard link to that             
facility, Mr. Shay became one of his followers.  There is great                
community support for renaming the bridge.  He urged the                       
legislation be passed.                                                         
                                                                               
Number 1308                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON moved and asked unanimous consent to move SB
 out of committee with individual recommendations and with the              
attached zero fiscal note.  There being no objection, SB 211 moved             
out of the House Transportation Standing Committee.                            
                                                                               
Number 1334                                                                    
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS called for an at-ease which was taken at 1:24                
p.m. He called the meeting back to order at 1:31 p.m.