Committee Assignments:

  Education and Public Works
  Operations and Management

Occupation: Director of Communications, Commission on Higher Education

Biography:ALLISON, Merita Ann "Rita" [R]--(Dist. No. 36, Spartanburg Co.)--Dir. of Communications, Comm. on Higher Educ.; b. Feb. 19 in Spartanburg Co.; d. Raymond A. Nichols and Jessie Estell Caldwell; g. James F. Byrnes High School, 1958; John Robert Powers School of Fashion Merchandising; Feb. 14, 1959 m. William Ronald Allison, 1 child, Katina Allison Degler; Outstanding Young Women of America, 1972; Spartanburg Co. Dist. Five School Bd., 1986–92; Bd. mem., R.D. Anderson Vocational School, 1991–92; Pres., S.C. Jaycee Auxiliary, 1968-69; S.C. PTA of the Year, 1985; U.S. Jaycee life mem., 1978; Bd. mem., Miss S.C. Scholarship Prog., 1968–08; Middle Tyger Chamber of Commerce; Blue Ribbon Task Force for Higher Educ. Funding; Adv. Bd., Lyman First Citizens Bank; Pres., lifetime mem., PTA; Miss S.C. Hall of Fame; Southern Hospitality Club Off.; Middle Tyger Civitans; Chm., General Assembly Women’s Caucus, 1994–96; VC, Operation and Mgmt. Com., 1994–96; Jt. Legis. Com. on Children and Families; State Tax Ad Hoc Study Com., 1998; PASS Com. Legis. Study Com.; Retirement Investment Equity Conf. Com., 1998; MTA Comm. Center Bd., 1998–99; Chm., Greer J. Verne Smith Human Resource Center Bd., 1996–99; Woman of Achievement, Piedmont Girl Scouts, 1997; Victims Advocate Legislator of the Year, 1997; SCSBA Legislator of the Year, 1999; Founder and Chm., GOP Women’s Caucus, 1999; House Budget Com. Conferee, 1999; NFB Legislator of the Year, 2000; GOP Asst. Majority Leader, 1999–00; Middle Tyger Chamber Citizen of the Year; Woman of Achievement, Miss D/L/W Prog.; Educ. Adv. for Gov. Mark Sanford, 2003–05; Legis. Adv. for Gov. Mark Sanford, 2006–07; mem., Wellford Baptist Church; prev. serv. in House 1993–02.

Biography current as of      June 17, 2009