S*1320 Resolution, By Elliott
 A SENATE RESOLUTION TO HONOR PHOTOGRAPHER JACK THOMPSON OF MYRTLE BEACH FOR
 HIS NEARLY SIXTY YEARS OF CAPTURING THE HISTORY OF MYRTLE BEACH ON FILM AND IN
 PRINT.

   03/25/10  Senate Introduced and adopted SJ-6

TO HONOR PHOTOGRAPHER JACK THOMPSON OF MYRTLE BEACH FOR HIS NEARLY SIXTY YEARS OF CAPTURING THE HISTORY OF MYRTLE BEACH ON FILM AND IN PRINT.

Whereas, premier photographer Jack Thompson, who began taking pictures of Myrtle Beach in 1951 when he was thirteen, is considered the keeper of the Grand Strand's photographic history; and

Whereas, his mark is everywhere, a fact that has often given him the name of "Mr. Myrtle Beach." He willingly shares the stories behind every picture he has taken, such as the one of the saxophone-playing girl on the beach, shot for the 1992 South Carolina Jazz Festival, or the one of the Reverend Billy Graham, who came to Myrtle Beach after Hurricane Hugo; and

Whereas, perhaps even more familiar to many Myrtle Beach aficionados are the hundreds of thousands of photos Jack took of Grand Strand visitors in the "Myrtle Beach Jail"; and

Whereas, as a teenager in the early 1950s, Jack hitchhiked to Myrtle Beach from his home in Greenville with two friends, Carroll Campbell and Fred Collins; and

Whereas, while his friends went to get something to eat, Jack went to the souvenir-photo area at the Pavilion and asked for a job. He got it, and that small beginning, taking pictures of tourists posing at a cutout of a crescent moon, eventually blossomed into a lifelong career. Jack opened his own studio almost half a century ago not very far from the Pavilion, where it all started; and

Whereas, a sample of his extensive pictorial collection is documented in his most recent book, Memories of Myrtle Beach; and

Whereas, he also founded Myrtle Beach's first news magazine, Insight Into the Grand Strand, followed by the area's debut golf magazine, Grand Strand Golfer. Other books he wrote and photographed include Reflections in Time and Growing Up With Shoeless Joe, co-authored with his brother, Joe Thompson; and

Whereas, Jack has held numerous exhibitions of his work, such as Photographic Reflections of Old Myrtle Beach at Coastal Carolina University's Rebecca Randall Bryan Art Gallery, and he chaired the All Aboard Committee, credited with restoring the old Myrtle Beach Train Depot; and

Whereas, for his contributions in documentation and preservation, among many other things, he was awarded an honorary doctor of fine arts degree from Coastal Carolina University, as well as the American Advertising Federation's Silver Medal Award, bestowed by local affiliate Coastal Advertising and Marketing Professionals; and

Whereas, the members of the Senate, united in admiration for Jack's photographic excellence and dedication to recording the history of his beloved Myrtle Beach, wish to express their gratitude for his life's work and extend best wishes for much continued success and fulfillment in years to come. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, honor photographer Jack Thompson of Myrtle Beach for his nearly sixty years of capturing the history of Myrtle Beach on film and in print.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be provided to Jack Thompson.