Pennsylvania Act 2019-44 — MULTIPLE DESIGNATIONS IN MULTIPLE COUNTIES - DESIGNATION

Act text

An Act

Designating a bridge on that portion of State Route 3047 over the South Branch of Blacklick Creek, Blacklick Township, Cambria County, as the Private First Class Steve L. Klosz Memorial Bridge; designating the 2100 to 2200 block of Castor Avenue, State Route 1005, in Philadelphia County as the Police Officer Raymond Diaz, Jr., Memorial Highway; designating the portion of Interstate 376 from the end of the bridge identified as Bridge Key 3522 to the exit at State Route 51 in Beaver County as the Richard L. Shaw Memorial Highway; designating the bridge identified as Bridge Key 3522 on that portion of Interstate 376 over the Ohio River in Vanport Township, Beaver County, as the USAF Combat Controller Staff Sgt. Dylan Elchin Memorial Bridge; designating the first block of West Main Street, State Route 1010, in Fleetwood Borough, Berks County, as the Alex J. Szoke Highway; designating the bridge identified as Bridge Key 15986 on that portion of Interstate 79 northbound over West 16th Street in the City of Erie, Erie County, as the Thomas J. Kennedy, Jr., Memorial Bridge; designating the bridge on that portion of State Route 4011 over Pine Creek, Hegins Township, Schuylkill County, as the A. Donald Buffington Memorial Bridge; designating a portion of Pennsylvania Route 144 beginning at the intersection of Pennsylvania Route 64 in Pleasant Gap and ending at the intersection of Pennsylvania Route 45 in Centre Hall, Centre County, as the Duster-Quad 50-Searchlight Highway; and designating a portion of Pennsylvania Route 50 in Independence Township, Washington County, as the Lt. Col. Juanita L. Warman Memorial Highway.

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

Section 1. Private First Class Steve L. Klosz Memorial Bridge.

(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:

(1) Private First Class Steve L. Klosz was born November 29, 1915, in Cleveland, Ohio.

(2) Shortly after PFC Klosz was born, his family, which immigrated to the United States from Hungary, moved to Twin Rocks, Blacklick Township.

(3) PFC Klosz was drafted into the United States Army in July 1942 during World War II.

(4) Following basic training and radioman training, PFC Klosz was assigned to the 191st Tank Battalion.

(5) The 191st Tank Battalion first landed in North Africa but did not see combat until it landed on the beach in Salerno, Italy, in 1943.

(6) Beginning on September 9, 1943, the 191st Tank Battalion engaged in Operation Avalanche in an attempt to secure the beaches of Salerno.

(7) On September 11, 1943, PFC Klosz was killed in action.

(8) PFC Klosz was awarded the Purple Heart, the American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.

(9) The Twin Rocks Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #7605 is dedicated in memory of PFC Klosz.

(b) Designation.--The bridge, identified as Bridge Key 8675, located on State Route 3047 over the South Branch of Blacklick Creek, Blacklick Township, Cambria County, is designated the Private First Class Steve L. Klosz Memorial Bridge.

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

Section 2. Police Officer Raymond Diaz, Jr., Memorial Highway.

(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:

(1) Police Officer Raymond Diaz, Jr., made the ultimate sacrifice on September 9, 2016, when he died as a result of complications from injuries sustained in an accident when his patrol car was struck by a vehicle while responding to a burglary.

(2) As a result of the accident Officer Diaz was diagnosed with concussion-like symptoms as well as other injuries.

(3) Officer Diaz was assigned to the 24th Police District and served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 20 years.

(4) Officer Diaz is survived by his wife and three children.

(b) Designation.--The 2100 to 2200 block of Castor Avenue, State Route 1005, in Philadelphia County is designated the Police Officer Raymond Diaz, Jr., Memorial Highway.

(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 3. Richard L. Shaw Memorial Highway.

(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:

(1) Richard L. Shaw, born on May 8, 1927, passed away on December 29, 2018, at 91 years of age.

(2) After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh in 1950 with a business degree, Shaw went to work for the Michael Baker Corp., an engineering firm, in 1952. He progressed through various leadership positions before being named president in 1973 and chief executive officer in 1984.

(3) He retired as CEO of Michael Baker Corp. in 1992, but returned to that role three times between 1993 and 2006, finally retiring in 2008.

(4) Shaw served for decades on the board of directors of the Beaver County Corporation for Economic Development, as well as the New Brighton Area school board.

(5) Shaw was a trustee of Brighton Center for Youth and served on the boards of a number of organizations, including The United Way of Beaver County, Salvation Army, Penn State Beaver, Southwestern Pennsylvania Regional Planning Commission, Allegheny County Airport Authority, American Red Cross and Boy Scouts of America.

(6) In his capacity at Michael Baker Corp., Shaw also completed the property surveys, site design and civil permitting for the new home of the Beaver County Humane Society at no cost to the society. The plan for the state-of-the-art facility came to fruition in 2013.

(7) Shaw was a leading force in the designation of Route 60 as Interstate 376, which sparked significant economic development in Beaver County.

(8) A World War II veteran, Shaw dedicated more than 60 years to supporting and expanding the business and civic communities of Beaver County.

(b) Designation.--The portion of Interstate 376 from the end of the bridge identified as Bridge Key 3522 to the exit at State Route 51 in Beaver County is designated the Richard L. Shaw Memorial Highway.

(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 4. USAF Combat Controller Staff Sgt. Dylan Elchin Memorial Bridge.

(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:

(1) USAF Combat Controller Staff Sgt. Dylan Elchin was born June 11, 1993, and gave his life in the line of duty on November 27, 2018, at 25 years of age.

(2) After graduating from Hopewell High School in 2012, Staff Sgt. Elchin joined the United State Air Force and was stationed at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico.

(3) Staff Sgt. Elchin was deployed to serve in the Andar District of the Ghazni Province in Afghanistan as a Joint Terminal Attack Controller with the 26th Special Tactics Squadron.

(4) Staff Sgt. Elchin was a recipient of the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal with valor, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Combat Action Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the NATO Medal.

(5) Throughout his career, Staff Sgt. Elchin steadfastly displayed exceeding loyalty and dedication to the United States of America as well as the United States Air Force. People who value freedom will forever owe him a debt that never can be repaid.

(b) Designation.--The bridge identified as Bridge Key 3522 on that portion of Interstate 376 over the Ohio River in Vanport Township, Beaver County, is designated the USAF Combat Controller Staff Sgt. Dylan Elchin Memorial Bridge.

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

Section 5. Alex J. Szoke Highway.

(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:

(1) Alex J. "Shonny" Szoke was recognized for his record of community commitment and service by a resolution of the borough council of Fleetwood Borough, Berks County, on December 10, 2018.

(2) Mr. Szoke and his wife, Gloria, were married for 65 years before his death on November 18, 2018.

(3) He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve before graduating from Kutztown High School in 1948, and served in the United States Navy during the Korean War.

(4) Mr. Szoke was a member of Fleetwood Borough Council for 40 years, serving most of that time as council president.

(5) He also served as a church council member of Becker's St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Molltown; a founder of the Fleetwood Area Baseball Association (FABA); a Cub Scout master for Evansville and Fleetwood, an officer of the Fraternal Order Orioles Fleetwood Nest 23; a secretary of his union local at Allentown Portland Cement in Evansville, past chair of the Berks County Democratic Committee and winner of the full beard award during the 1973 Fleetwood Centennial year.

(b) Designation.--The first block of West Main Street, State Route 1010, in Fleetwood Borough, Berks County, is designated the Alex J. Szoke Highway.

(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 6. Thomas J. Kennedy, Jr., Memorial Bridge. (6 repealed Mar. 23, 2021, P.L. , No.6)

Section 7. A. Donald Buffington Memorial Bridge.

(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:

(1) A. Donald Buffington was born December 16, 1929.

(2) Mr. Buffington graduated in 1947 from the former Hegins Township High School and in 1949 from the former Eckles College of Mortuary Science, Philadelphia.

(3) Mr. Buffington faithfully served his community as a board member of the Valley View Park Association and a board member of the Tri-Valley School Board for several decades.

(4) Mr. Buffington spent several decades of time maintaining the Valley View Park, which included painting and cutting grass.

(5) Mr. Buffington was a coach for the Hegins Valley Teener League and was the first Teener League coach from Schuylkill County to win the State Championship in 1970.

(6) Mr. Buffington played and coached semi-pro baseball in the area for many years.

(7) Mr. Buffington was the Funeral Director for the former Buffington Funeral Home and the Buffington-Reed Funeral Home, both of Valley View.

(8) Mr. Buffington was a member of Friedens United Church of Christ in Hegins, Valley View Gun Club and Valley View Fire Company.

(b) Designation.--The bridge located on State Route 4011 over Pine Creek, Hegins Township, Schuylkill County, is designated the A. Donald Buffington Memorial Bridge.

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

Section 8. Duster-Quad 50-Searchlight Highway (Repealed).

(8 repealed Nov. 27, 2019, P.L.703, No.102)

Section 9. Lieutenant Colonel Juanita L. Warman Memorial Highway.

(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:

(1) Lt. Col. Juanita L. Warman lived in Avella as a child and attended elementary school and junior high school there.

(2) Lt. Col. Juanita L. Warman attended the former Langley High School in Pittsburgh and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a master's degree in nursing.

(3) Lt. Col. Warman worked at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center for a portion of her career, joined the United States Army and, as a psychiatric nurse practitioner, served in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2006.

(4) Lt. Col. Warman was an expert in post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.

(5) Lt. Col. Warman served a year in Germany at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, a medical facility where soldiers wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq were treated before being returned to the United States, and regularly volunteered for trips to care for soldiers being transported to Landstuhl.

(6) For her meritorious service at Landstuhl, Lt. Col. Warman was awarded the Army Commendation Medal in 2006.

(7) On November 5, 2009, while at the Soldier Readiness Processing Center in Fort Hood, Texas, for deployment to Iraq, Lt. Col Warman was killed during a shooting rampage in which 13 people were killed and 30 more were injured.

(8) Lt. Col. Warman's military career spanned 25 years in active duty and the Army reserves.

(b) Designation.--The section of Pennsylvania Route 50 in Independence Township, Washington County, from Segment 70 to Segment 80 is designated the Lt. Col. Juanita L. Warman Memorial Highway.

(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 10. Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 60 days.