BILL NUMBER: SCR 23	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Cannella

                        MARCH 13, 2013

   Relative to the Soledad Correctional Officers Memorial Highway.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 23, as introduced, Cannella. Soledad Correctional Officers
Memorial Highway.
   This measure would designate a specified portion of State Highway
Route 101 in the County of Monterey as the Soledad Correctional
Officers Memorial Highway to honor John V. Mills, William C. Shull,
Robert J. McCarthy, and Kenneth E. Conant with their names included
in the designation of the highway. The measure would also request the
Department of Transportation to determine the cost of appropriate
signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations
from nonstate sources covering that cost, to erect those signs.
   Fiscal committee: yes.



   WHEREAS, Between January 1970 and May 1971, four correctional
officers were attacked and killed in the line of duty at the Salinas
Valley State Prison, formerly known as the Soledad State Prison, in a
string of violent inmate uprisings; and
   WHEREAS, John V. Mills, born on July 19, 1944, in Riverside,
California, grew up in Fresno, attended Long Beach State College,
served two years in the Army, and had just been assigned to the
medium security Y-Wing in relief of another guard who was on
vacation; and
   WHEREAS, On July 19, 1970, Officer Mills was locked in the cell
block with 95 inmates, and was attacked and beaten to death at
approximately 6:30 p.m. by three inmates in retaliation for the
shooting deaths of three other inmates at the prison; and
   WHEREAS, Officer Mills was a 14-month veteran correctional officer
of the prison and resident of Monterey, who left a widow,
Bernadette, and a son, Michael Lee; and
   WHEREAS, William C. Shull, born on June 13, 1930, in Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania, attended Gettysburg High School, served 22 years in the
Army, retiring with the rank of Master Sergeant, and was awarded the
Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal; and
   WHEREAS, On July 23, 1970, Officer Shull was assigned to the
recreational building 1-Yard exercise area in relief of another guard
who was unable to work that day, and was found lifeless at 9:30 a.m.
by an inmate, having been beaten and stabbed to death by inmates in
retaliation for the shooting deaths of three other inmates at the
prison; and
   WHEREAS, Officer Shull was a one-year veteran correctional officer
of the prison and resident of Seaside, who left a widow, Kazuko, and
four girls, Gracie, Sarah, Betty, and Rose; and
   WHEREAS, Robert J. McCarthy, born on August 8, 1927, in Oklahoma,
served 21 years in the Army, retiring with the rank of Sergeant; and
   WHEREAS, On March 4, 1971, Officer McCarthy was conducting a count
of the inmates in X-Wing, at 11:15 p.m., when an inmate, claiming he
needed to mail a letter, lured Officer McCarthy to his cell door and
stabbed him; and
   WHEREAS, Valiant efforts by hospital staff and an inmate in the
infirmary stabilized Officer McCarthy's condition, but he died after
he was transferred to the military hospital at Fort Ord; and
   WHEREAS, Officer McCarthy was a veteran correctional officer of
the prison since 1966 and a resident of the City of Marina, who left
a widow, Emily, and two children, Leon and Sylvia; and
   WHEREAS, Kenneth E. Conant, born on December 6, 1921, in Denver,
Colorado, attended the University of Denver and the University of
Southern California; and
   WHEREAS, On May 19, 1971, Mr. Conant, a correctional employee was
sitting at his desk preparing to conduct a disciplinary committee
hearing with several inmates and prison employees when they were
attacked by two inmates with handmade knives, and Mr. Conant was
fatally stabbed while the other prison officials received minor
injuries; and
   WHEREAS, Mr. Conant was a 20-year veteran of corrections work and
a resident of Salinas, who left a widow, Helen, and a son, Donald;
now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates the
portion of State Highway Route 101 between Exit 303 and Exit 310 in
the County of Monterey as the Soledad Prison Correctional Officers
Memorial Highway to honor John V. Mills, William C. Shull, Robert J.
McCarthy, and Kenneth E. Conant, whose names shall be included in the
special designation of the highway; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Department of Transportation is requested to
determine the cost of appropriate signs consistent with the signing
requirements for the state highway system showing this special
designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources
sufficient to cover the cost, to erect those signs; and be it further

   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the Department of Transportation and to the author for
appropriate distribution.