Pennsylvania Act 2019-11 — J. EDWARD "HUTCH" HUTCHINSON MEMORIAL BYPASS - DESIGNATION

Act text

An Act

Designating a portion of U.S. Route 30 in Hempfield Township, Southwest Greensburg Borough, the City of Greensburg, and South Greensburg Borough, Westmoreland County, as the J. Edward "Hutch" Hutchinson Memorial Bypass.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. J. Edward "Hutch" Hutchinson Memorial Bypass.

(a) Findings.--

(1) J. Edward "Hutch" Hutchinson was born and raised in Greensburg, Westmoreland County. "Hutch" passed away April 15, 2018, at the age of 96 after spending most of those years in overwhelming service to his community.

(2) "Hutch" was a long-serving member and chief of Greensburg Hose Company No. 3. Having joined the volunteer fire company on his 18th birthday in 1939, "Hutch" was active in the fire department for more than 78 years. Throughout that time period, he was absent from the department only while serving in the Marine Corps during World War II.

(3) "Hutch" was sworn in as chief of the department in January 1953 and continually served until his retirement on November 14, 2016. During his 63 years as chief, "Hutch" never missed a fire call.

(4) Chief Hutchinson developed many new programs and initiatives for the Greensburg Fire Department, several of which have allowed the department to provide vital assistance in emergencies far beyond Greensburg.

(5) Chief Hutchinson created the department's scuba dive team in 1958. Since its formation, the Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department Dive Team has logged more than 1,000 recoveries both locally and nationally, recovering drowning victims, vehicles, stolen property, weapons and miscellaneous items.

(6) In February 1969, Chief Hutchinson's idea to form a bloodhound team within the department became a reality with 12 volunteer firemen and two dogs. Today, the team has grown to more than 25 volunteer firefighters and seven active bloodhounds, responding to approximately 25 to 35 calls annually to assist with locating missing children; persons missing from institutions, nursing homes and senior care living facilities; Alzheimer patients; and robbery suspects.

(7) In addition to the scuba dive team and bloodhound team, Chief Hutchinson was also responsible for the establishment of the department's rope rescue team and confined space rescue team and the department's procurement of vital equipment such as the high-expansion foam truck and the first Hurst hydraulic vehicle rescue tools.

(8) Under Chief Hutchinson's leadership, members of the Greensburg Fire Department provided assistance to other communities in need, including Hurricane Hugo relief efforts in South Carolina and helping to successfully rescue the nine miners of the Quecreek mine collapse. When the chief saw a need, he responded and motivated others to do the same, whether it was for a local family who lost their possessions in a fire or a poor school in Selma, Alabama, in need of equipment and supplies.

(9) Aside from his service as fire chief, "Hutch" was also instrumental in many community projects in Westmoreland County such as the Aerobic Center, Air Rescue East helicopter service, Mutual Aid Ambulance Service, the fitness center at Greensburg Salem High School and sports fields and various pavilions throughout Greensburg. "Hutch" is credited with helping to create the Westmoreland County 911 system in the 1970s and served for many years on Excela Westmoreland Hospital's board of directors.

(10) Chief Hutchinson was someone who never sought and rarely accepted public accolades, but he was the first recipient of the "Pennsylvania Fireman of the Year" award on September 26, 1964.

(b) Designation.--The portion of U.S. Route 30 in Westmoreland County from North Greengate Road, Hempfield Township, to East Pittsburgh Street, Hempfield Township, is hereby designated the J. Edward "Hutch" Hutchinson Memorial Bypass.

(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the highway to traffic in both directions on the highway.

Section 2. Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 60 days.