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A JOINT RESOLUTION designating the Coach Jim Matney Memorial Highway in 1
Johnson and Martin Counties. 2
WHEREAS, James Thomas "Jim" Matney was born on August 17, 1959 , in 3
Paintsville, Kentucky, to Kermit and Pauline Matney; and 4
WHEREAS, Jim Matney graduated in 1977 from Belfry High School, where he 5
excelled in football, wrestling, and baseball; and 6
WHEREAS, Jim Matney attended Liberty University, where he continued his 7
career in wrestling and graduated with a degree in history in 1982; and 8
WHEREAS, Jim Matney came back home to the Commonwealth and became an 9
assistant football coach at his alma mater, Belfry High School; and 10
WHEREAS, Coach Jim Matney later accepted a po sition at Sheldon Clark High 11
School in Martin County, Kentucky, as their head football and wrestling coach. He led 12
the wrestling team to two consecutive state championships in 1994 and 1995, and he 13
would lead the football team to the state semifinals; and 14
WHEREAS, Coach Jim Matney's crowning achievement was when he became head 15
football coach at Johnson Central High School in 2004, where he led his team to five 16
straight state championship games and two state championships in 2016 and 2019; and 17
WHEREAS, Coach Jim Matney also coached the wrestling team and led them to 18
being runners-up in the state championships in 2019; and 19
WHEREAS, Coach Jim Matney is one of only 12 football coaches in the 20
Commonwealth’s history to record 300 wins during his career; and 21
WHEREAS, Coach Jim Matney would gain the nickname of "Pride of Hagerhill" 22
through his successes as head coach; and 23
WHEREAS, Coach Jim Matney died on September 28, 2021, from complications 24
of Covid -19, and is survived by his dear wife Deborah; two sons, Dalton and Carson; 25
brothers, Clyde Payne, Gary Matney, Bill Matney, and Mike Matney; and a large 26
extended family of in-laws, nieces, and nephews; and 27
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WHEREAS, Coach Jim Matney is dearly missed and remembered by the 1
community at large to be a man of faith, good character, and a true giant and mountain 2
legend to Johnson County and Johnson Central High School; 3
NOW, THEREFORE, 4
Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 5
Section 1. The Transportation Cabinet shall designate all of Kentucky Route 3 6
in Johnson County and the portion of Kentucky Route 3 in Martin County, from mile 7
point 20 to the Johnson County line, as the "Coach Jim Matney Memorial Highway" and 8
shall, within 30 da ys of the effective date of this Resolution, erect appropriate signage 9
denoting this designation. This honorary designation shall supersede any previous 10
designations for this section of highway. 11