hr408.html

06 LC 34 0606S

The House Committee on Transportation offers the following substitute to HR 408:

A RESOLUTION

Renaming Negro Branch in Brooks County as Pride Branch; dedicating the "Colonel R. H. Burson Bridge"; and for other purposes.

PART I

WHEREAS, there exists in Brooks County a stream historically known as Negro Branch and the stream is so identified on the Georgia Department of Transportatiońs Brooks County Highway Map; and

WHEREAS, the name of this stream has on occasion in use been corrupted into a slang term which is derogatory and offensive; and

WHEREAS, the governing authority of Brooks County has recommended a change in the name of this stream and the students of Brooks County have suggested a new name of Pride Branch; and

WHEREAS, the General Assembly determines that it may make this change effective for state purposes by resolution having the effect of law; and action by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names is needed to make this change effective for federal purposes.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that the name of Negro Branch in Brooks County, as identified on the Georgia Department of Transportatiońs Brooks County Highway Map, is hereby changed to Pride Branch.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any maps or records referring to such creek which are maintained by the Department of Transportation and other state agencies shall upon their next regular updating be changed to reflect the new name of the creek unless otherwise provided by federal law or regulation.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the governing authority of Brooks County is authorized and requested to apply for a corresponding change in the Geographic Names Information System maintained by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the governing authority of Brooks County.

PART II

WHEREAS, R. H. Burson graduated from Bowden High School in 1927; and

WHEREAS, he joined the Georgia Department of Public Safety in 1939 as a trooper, graduating in the third Georgia State Patrol Trooper School; and

WHEREAS, he rose through the ranks of the State Patrol to become its commanding officer in 1959; and

WHEREAS, he was appointed deputy director of the Department of Public Safety in 1961 where he served until 1963 when Governor Carl Sanders appointed him Director of the Department of Corrections; and

WHEREAS, he served as Director of the Department of Corrections until 1967 when he was appointed Director of the Department of Public Safety, a position which he held until his retirement in 1971; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that the service of this extraordinary individual be recognized.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that the bridge on U. S. Highway 78 at Mirror Lake in Douglas County be dedicated as the "Colonel R. H. Burson Bridge."

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is authorized and directed to erect and maintain appropriate signs dedicating the "Colonel R. H. Burson Bridge."

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to transmit appropriate copies of this resolution to the family of Colonel R. H. Burson and to the Department of Transportation.