CHAPTER NO. 577

SENATE BILL NO. 2219

By Kurita

Substituted for: House Bill No. 2104

By Ridgeway

AN ACT To designate a certain bridge spanning Yellow Creek on State Route 49 in Houston County as the "Wiley C. Warden Memorial Bridge".

WHEREAS, It is fitting that the elected representatives of the State of Tennessee should pay tribute to those exemplary citizens who played an instrumental role in the growth and prosperity of their respective communities; and

WHEREAS, The son of John and Lula (Roby) Warden, Wiley Cleveland Warden was born September 4, 1884 in Houston County; during his childhood years, he lived with his family on a farm on the Williamson branch of Yellow Creek; and

WHEREAS, As an enterprising youth, Wiley C. Warden worked at the general merchandise store at Ellis Mills, which was later operated by E.P. Sparkman; and

WHEREAS, By 1917, Mr. Warden had heeded the call of his entrepreneurial spirit and was successfully operating a general merchandise store of his own on the banks of Yellow Creek, one-fourth (1/4) mile above the junction of what are now State Route 46 and State Route 49; and

WHEREAS, By the late 1930's, Mr. Warden had moved his base of operations downstream on Yellow Creek to the famous location that came to be known as "W.C. Warden's Store", a designation that the store bears to this day; and

WHEREAS, In addition to being a successful businessman, Mr. Warden was an astute and friendly proprietor who knew how to keep his customers satisfied; his store became a gathering place for local people from many generations; and

WHEREAS, In those days, it was common practice for storekeepers to advance credit to local farmers for as much as one year's groceries and supplies; and

WHEREAS, Not only did Mr. Warden generously comply with this need, he also extended cash loans to farmers on numerous occasions; and

WHEREAS, Wiley C. Warden was an outstanding gentleman who tempered a keen business acumen with faith in and compassion for his fellow human beings; and

WHEREAS, Men of his integrity and stature do not often walk among us, as he has left behind an indelible legacy of meritorious public service and unfaltering commitment to the greater good; and

WHEREAS, By 1950, Mr. Warden had built a comfortable home for himself and his wife, Sadie; their new home was located just across the highway from the store on the banks of Yellow Creek; and

WHEREAS, It was in this home that Mr. Warden passed from this life to a far better existence on August 5, 1968; and

WHEREAS, Numerous area residents have signed a petition requesting that a certain bridge spanning the Yellow Creek in Houston County be named in fond memory of Mr. Warden; and

WHEREAS, Yellow Creek played a significant role in all aspects of Mr. Warden's bountiful life, and the aforementioned bridge is quite near the site of his first store; and

WHEREAS, For these and many other reasons, this Body concurs in the excellent proposal to name such bridge to honor Mr. Warden's august memory; now, therefore,

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the bridge that spans Yellow Creek on State Route 49 at log mile 15.12 in Houston County (one-fourth (1/4) mile east of such route's intersection with State Route 46) is hereby designated as the "Wiley C. Warden Memorial Bridge" to honor this remarkable man's life of purpose and commitment to others.

SECTION 2. The Department of Transportation is directed to erect suitable signs or to affix suitable markers designating such bridge as the "Wiley C. Warden Memorial Bridge".

SECTION 3. The erection of such signs shall be within the guidelines prescribed by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.

PASSED: FEBRUARY 12, 1998

APPROVED this 25th day of February 1998