Senate 42

SENATE RESOLUTION 42

(By Senators Morris, Smith (Mr. President), Azinger, Barnhart, Barrett, Barlett, Chapman, Charnock, Clements, Deeds, Fuller, Garcia, Grady, Hamilton, Hart, Helton, Jeffries, Martin, M. Maynard, Z. Maynard, Oliverio, Phillips, Queen, Roberts, Rose, Rucker, Takubo, Tarr, Taylor, Thorne, Weld, Willis, Woelfel and Woodrum)

[Introduced February 13, 2026]

Memorializing the life of the Honorable Walter Dolph Helmick, coal miner, welder, teacher, businessman, Mason, former West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture, former member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, former member of the West Virginia Senate, statesman, and dedicated public servant.

Whereas, The Honorable Walter Dolph Helmick was born April 25, 1944, at #4 mine on Leatherwood Creek, near Bergoo, West Virginia, son of the late D. Walter and Cleo (Blevins) Helmick; and

Whereas, The Honorable Walter Dolph Helmick graduated from Webster Springs High School in 1963 and furthered his education at Marshall University, West Virginia Institute of Technology, University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute, Hobart Technical Center, Lincoln Welding School, and Mendenhall School of Auctioneering; and

Whereas, The Honorable Walter Dolph Helmick initially followed in his father's footsteps, working as a coal miner and later went on to teach welding at Pocahontas County High School; and

Whereas, The Honorable Walter Dolph Helmick operated Allegheny Lodge Enterprises, where he bottled spring water, such as “Minnehaha Mist”; and

Whereas, The Honorable Walter Dolph Helmick was a 50-year Mason and was a member of the Addison Lodge in Webster County before he transferred to Huntersville Lodge in Pocahontas County, where he served twice as Worshipful Master; he was a member of the Valley of the Charleston Scottish Rite where he received the 33rd Degree in 2011 and was also a Shriner; and

Whereas, The Honorable Walter Dolph Helmick was elected to the Pocahontas County Board of Education and the Pocahontas County Commission and served on a multitude of other local boards and organizations; and

Whereas, The Honorable Walter Dolph Helmick was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates in 1988; and

Whereas, The Honorable Walter Dolph Helmick was appointed to the West Virginia Senate on September 13, 1989, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Larry A. Tucker; and

Whereas, Following his appointment to the Senate, the Honorable Walter Dolph Helmick was elected to six terms: 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, and 2010; and

Whereas, The Honorable Walter Dolph Helmick, during his tenure in the Senate, held the following positions: Chairman, Committee on Finance, 76th, 77th, 78th, and 79th Legislatures; Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, 75th Legislature; Chairman, Committee on Banking and Insurance, 73rd and 74th Legislatures; Chairman, Committee on Military, 71st and 72nd Legislatures; and

    Whereas, The Honorable Walter Dolph Helmick won statewide election in 2012 and resigned from the Senate on January 14, 2013, to serve one term as West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture; and

Whereas, Sadly, the Honorable Walter Dolph Helmick passed away on September 6, 2025, leaving behind a grateful state and a host of family and friends, all of whom will miss him dearly; and

Whereas, It is fitting that the Senate pay tribute to the legacy of the Honorable Walter Dolph Helmick for his many years of dedicated public service; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby memorializes the life of the Honorable Walter Dolph Helmick, coal miner, welder, teacher, businessman, Mason, former West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture, former member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, former member of the West Virginia Senate, statesman, and dedicated public servant; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Senate extends its sympathies to the family of the Honorable Walter Dolph Helmick on his passing; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the family of the Honorable Walter Dolph Helmick.