Turnpike name change tabled

By Mannix Porterfield
The Register-Herald

CHARLESTON Tue, May 13 2008

— Okey Patteson, a road-building governor whose dream to cut a huge swath through southern West Virginia for a modern highway came to fruition, won’t be getting his name on that road after all.
At least not for a year.
A House resolution crafted by Delegate John Pino, D-Fayette, to name the 88-mile toll road after the late governor and onetime Mount Hope resident failed Saturday in the Senate.
Sen. Shirley Love, D-Fayette, led the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on the final day of the session into shelving Pino’s plan for now.
Love said he held “great respect” for Patteson, but reminded committee members the Senate only a few years ago honored the former governor by naming W.Va. 612 from the Mossy exit of the West Virginia Turnpike to Oak Hill after him.
Signs are up depicting the road designation in honor of Patteson, who was elected in 1948 and conceived the idea of the turnpike.
Patteson had overcome the severe handicap of losing his legs in a hunting accident to launch a political career that vaulted him into the Governor’s Mansion.
When constructed, a national publication dubbed the turnpike a “miracle,” given the challenging terrain through which crews toiled to lay the road, then a two-lane highway with some three-lane sections and the Memorial Tunnel.
Love wanted to table the resolution so others could have an opportunity to suggest portions of the road they might want to honor, rather than leave the road entirely to Patteson’s memory.
“That highway was built in increments,” Love said. “It wasn’t built all at once. Okey was a great guy. It’s not just a short road, however, it’s a long, interstate highway.
“That 88-mile road runs through four counties. I want to give others time who may want to name a portion of it in honor of someone in their respective counties.”
— E-mail:
mannix@register-herald.com