House Resolution 1427
By: Representatives Sainz of the 180th, Hitchens of the 161st, Willis of the 55th, DeLoach of
the 167th, and Townsend of the 179th
A RESOLUTION
Urging Congress to pass the Thiokol Memorial Gold Medal Act; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, on February 3, 1971, the Thiokol plant in Woodbine, Georgia, which
manufactured trip flares for use during the Vietnam War, sustained a massive explosion that
claimed the lives of 29 employees: Celia Alberta, Ethel Banks, Annie C. Booth, Gloria W.
Booth, Bertha R. Brunswick, Bettie R. Burch, Charles Burch, James L. Chapman, Yvonne
M. Connelly, Jack Cox, Mae H. Davis, Mildred Davis, Howard Ellis Sr., Willie M. Fuller,
Pearlie M. Hutchinson, Annie M. James, Mack Kennedy, Essie D. King, Gracie M. Life,
Bertha M. Hill, Charles T. Monak, James Parland, Sandra R. Rauls, Cyrus D. Roberson,
Betty J. Roberts, Lillie B. Spells, Cheryl M. Sullivan, Mae A. Taylor, and Annie L. Williams;
and
WHEREAS, in May 1973, another worker, Joseph E. Wainright, died in a mortar shell
explosion at the same facility; and
WHEREAS, the Woodbine Thiokol Chemical Plant employees were members of the United
Chemical Workers Union 832 and the pioneers of men and women of all ethnicities working
together to earn equally an hourly wage, becoming the blueprint for the modern American
workplace; and
WHEREAS, the 600 government-contracted employees of the Woodbine Thiokol Chemical
Plant manufactured vital munitions for the United States Military during the Vietnam War
in Woodbine, Georgia; and
WHEREAS, on February 3, 1971, at 10:53 AM during Tripflare manufacturing operations
in Building M-132, an explosion occurred at the Woodbine Thiokol Chemical Plant; and
WHEREAS, on February 3, 1971, the United States Army, Navy, and Coast Guard, along
with civilian helicopter pilots, police officers, firemen, nurses, and doctors from 16 cities
and 14 hospitals, provided emergency rescue and medical care and fought to save lives; and
WHEREAS, the Thiokol explosion is the worst disaster in the history of southeastern
Georgia and is now ranked as the tenth out of 100 worst industrial accidents in United States
history in 100 years, which was triumphed over by the human spirit; and
WHEREAS, the 30 plant workers' lives were cut short in 1971 and 1973, but the tragic loss
of these Georgians changed the quality of life for millions of Americans, resulting in
improvements in transportation, emergency medical services, mass tort litigation, and plant
safety; and
WHEREAS, in 2026, United States Representative Buddy Carter introduced the Thiokol
Memorial Gold Medal Act, a bill that awards the Congressional Gold Medal to the 30 people
who died while in the service of their country during the historic explosion more than 50
years ago.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body urge Congress to enact the Thiokol Memorial Gold Medal Act.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the
President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, the Speaker of the
United States House of Representatives, and to each member of the Congressional delegation
from this state.