BILL ANALYSIS �
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SCR 23|
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CONSENT
Bill No: SCR 23
Author: Cannella (R)
Amended: 4/9/13
Vote: 21
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE : 10-0, 4/16/13
AYES: DeSaulnier, Gaines, Beall, Cannella, Galgiani, Hueso,
Lara, Liu, Roth, Wyland
NO VOTE RECORDED: Pavley
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8
SUBJECT : Soledad State Prison Correctional Officers Memorial
Highway
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This resolution names a portion of State Highway
Route 101 in Monterey County as the Soledad State Prison
Correctional Officers Memorial Highway honoring John V. Mills,
William C. Shull, Robert J. McCarthy, and Kenneth E. Conant.
ANALYSIS : Background on Officers Conant, McCarthy, Mills, and
Shull:
Between January 1970 and May 1971, Soledad State Prison inmates
attacked and killed three correctional officers and a
correctional employee in the line of duty during a series of
violent inmate uprisings.
CONTINUED
SCR 23
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2
Officer John V. Mills was born on July 19, 1944, in Riverside,
California. He grew up in Fresno, attended Long Beach State
College, and served two years in the Army before starting to
work at Soledad State Prison. Two years later, on January 16,
1970, three inmates attacked Officer Mills and beat him to death
in retaliation for the shooting deaths of three inmates at the
prison. Officer Mills was survived by his widow, Bernadette,
and his son, Michael Lee.
Officer William C. Shull was born on June 13, 1930, in
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He attended Gettysburg High School,
served 22 years in the Army, retiring with the rank of Master
Sergeant, and was awarded the Bronze Star and the Army
Commendation Medal. On July 23, 1970, inmates fatally beat and
stabbed Officer Shull in retaliation for the shooting deaths of
three inmates at the prison. Officer Shull was survived by his
widow, Kazuko, and his four daughters, Gracie, Sarah, Betty, and
Rose.
Officer Robert J. McCarthy was born on August 8, 1927, in
Oklahoma. Officer McCarthy served 21 years in the Army,
retiring with the rank of Sergeant. On March 4, 1971, an inmate
stabbed Officer McCarthy. He later died at the military
hospital at Fort Ord. Officer McCarthy was survived by his
widow, Emily, and his two children, Leon and Sylvia.
Correctional employee Kenneth E. Conant was born on December 6,
1921, in Denver, Colorado. He attended the University of Denver
and the University of Southern California, and worked in
corrections for 20 years. On May 19, 1971, two inmates with
handmade knives attacked and fatally stabbed Mr. Conant. Mr.
Conant was survived by his widow, Helen, and his son, Donald.
This resolution designates the portion of State Highway Route
101, between Exits 305 and 310, as the Soledad State Prison
Correctional Officers Memorial Highway honoring John V. Mills,
William C. Shull, Robert J. McCarthy, and Kenneth E. Conant.
This resolution further requests that the Department of
Transportation erect appropriate signs upon receiving donations
from non-state sources to cover the costs.
FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: Yes
SUPPORT : (Verified 4/29/13)
SCR 23
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California Correctional Peace Officers Association
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation,
Correctional Training Facility
JA:ej 4/30/13 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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