SJR 8

SJR8 ENROLLED
1 SJR8
2 9J7ILMM-2
3 By Senator Williams
4 RFD: Rules
5 First Read: 14-Jan-26
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1 Enrolled, An Act,
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4 SJR___ NAMING THE BRIDGE ON UNITED STATES HIGHWAY 98 THAT
5 SPANS BIG CREEK LAKE IN WILMER, ALABAMA, THE LAMAR HARRISON
6 MEMORIAL BRIDGE.
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8WHEREAS, it is with the highest accolade that this
9 body honors the memory of Lamar Allen Harrison by requesting
10 the Department of Transportation designate the bridge on
11 U.S. Highway 98 that spans Big Creek Lake in Wilmer, Mobile
12 County, Alabama, as the Lamar Harrison Memorial Bridge; and
13WHEREAS, Lamar Harrison was born in Andalusia,
14 Alabama, in 1935; at 19 years of age, without many resources
15 but a strong desire to move out into the world and become
16 successful, he hitchhiked to the Mobile area where, after a
17 short time, he met his soon-to-be wife, Marceil Brown; the
18 couple planted roots in Wilmer, where he worked with his
19 father-in-law at Wilmer Western Auto Store and sold vacuum
20 cleaners to make ends meet before finding employment with
21 International Paper Company; in the late 1960s, he became an
22 entrepreneur and opened a hardware store, gas station,
23 drive-in restaurant, and skating rink; he continued to
24 enhance the Wilmer community when, years later, he and
25 Marceil founded Dirt, Inc.; they began investing in real
26 estate and later went on to found Gulf Hauling and
27 Construction, Inc.; and
28WHEREAS, Lamar Harrison was always willing to give
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29 back to the community; he served in the Alabama National
30 Guard; as a business owner, he sponsored ball teams and
31 fundraising activities; he also supported the growth of
32 Mobile Christian School and served on the Faulkner
33 University Board of Trustees and as Trustee Emeritus; he
34 purchased the property to host Gulf Coast Bible Camp, which
35 he continued to support throughout his lifetime; he was an
36 ardent supporter of Faulkner University, where his many
37 generous contributions supported the university's multiple
38 campuses in the state; Faulkner University conferred an
39 honorary Doctor of Humane Letters to him for his devoted
40 support of Christian education; and
41WHEREAS, Lamar Harrison was called home on June 17,
42 2021, leaving behind his family and community to grieve his
43 loss; he was celebrated at Azalea City Church of Christ in
44 Semmes, where he was a longtime member; his legacy of
45 service continues to be remembered and honored; now
46 therefore,
47BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH
48 HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That to honor Lamar Allen
49 Harrison, who loved and served his community and was beloved
50 in return, the Department of Transportation is encouraged to
51 coordinate with local governing officials to consider
52 designating the bridge on U.S. Highway 98 that spans Big
53 Creek Lake in Wilmer, Alabama, the Lamar Harrison Memorial
54 Bridge and to erect appropriate signs or markers, consistent
55 with applicable requirements and laws, in recognition of
56 this designation.
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63________________________________________________
64President and Presiding Officer of the Senate
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68________________________________________________
69Speaker of the House of Representatives
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72 SJR8
73 Senate 14-Jan-26
74 I hereby certify that the within Act originated in and
75 passed the Senate.
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77Patrick Harris,
78Secretary.
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83 House of Representatives
84 Passed: 22-Jan-26
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89 By: Senator Williams
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