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A JOINT RESOLUTION designating the Clark "Sparky" Middleton Memorial 1
Bridge in Harlan County. 2
WHEREAS, Clark "Sparky" Middleton was born on February 14, 1966, in Harlan, 3
Kentucky, to Sylvan and Marie Lewis Middleton as one of three children; and 4
WHEREAS, Sparky Middleton and Teresa, who would remain his loving wife for 5
his final 36 years on this earth, had three children together, Kaela (Johnny) Joseph, Jason 6
Middleton, and Kaley (Riley Murphy) Hall; and 7
WHEREAS, as a young man, Sparky Middleton became a coal mine foreman, 8
providing general supervision to his mine's operations and ensuring the safety of his 9
workers; and 10
WHEREAS, later in life, Sparky Middleton went on to become a constable, a 11
position he would hold for seventeen years; and 12
WHEREAS, Sparky Middleton also became a magistrate, a job to which he was 13
elected three terms; and 14
WHEREAS, Sparky Middleton was also a dedicated member of the Howard Lodge 15
#819 in Baxter, Kentucky, the Oleika Shrine Temple in Lexington, Kentucky, and the 16
Harlan County Shrine Club; and 17
WHEREAS, a faithful servant of the Christian faith, Sparky Middleton left us to 18
meet his creator on January 24, 2023 at Norton Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky, and is 19
now buried in the Middleton Cemetery; and 20
WHEREAS, in recognition of Sparky Middleton's service and love for his local 21
community, friends, and family, it is appropriate that his life be memorialized in some 22
tangible way; 23
NOW, THEREFORE, 24
Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 25
ď˘Section 1. The Transportation Cabinet shall designate the bridge on United 26
States Route 421 crossing Poor Fork Cumberland River (Bridge ID #048B00129N) as the 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 2291
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"Clark 'Sparky' Middleton Memorial Bridge," and shall, within 30 days of the effective 1
date of this Resolution, erect signs denoting this designation. 2