H*3660 Resolution, By Alexander, McKnight, Neal, Thigpen, Allison, Anderson, 
Anthony, Arrington, Atkinson, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, 
Bedingfield, Bennett, Bernstein, Blackwell, Bowers, Bradley, Brown, Burns, 
Caskey, Chumley, Clary, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Cole, Collins, 
Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Davis, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Duckworth, Elliott, 
Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Forrester, Fry, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gilliard, 
Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, 
Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, Jordan, King, 
Kirby, Knight, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, McCoy, 
McCravy, McEachern, Mitchell, D.C. Moss, V.S. Moss, Murphy, B. Newton, 
W. Newton, Norman, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Quinn, Ridgeway, 
M. Rivers, S. Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Ryhal, Sandifer, Simrill, 
G.M. Smith, G.R. Smith, J.E. Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, 
Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Toole, Weeks, West, Wheeler, Whipper, White, Whitmire, 
Williams, Willis and Yow
 A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THOMAS L. BATTLES, JR., THIRTY-THIRD
 GRAND POLEMARCH OF KAPPA ALPHA PSI FRATERNITY, INC., FOR HIS DEDICATED SERVICE
 TO HIS FRATERNITY AND HIS COUNTRY.

   02/02/17  House  Introduced and adopted (House Journal-page 35)

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THOMAS L. BATTLES, JR., THIRTY-THIRD GRAND POLEMARCH OF KAPPA ALPHA PSI FRATERNITY, INC., FOR HIS DEDICATED SERVICE TO HIS FRATERNITY AND HIS COUNTRY.

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that Thomas L. Battles, Jr., has been elected the thirty-third Grand Polemarch of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; and

Whereas, on May 11, 1973, Thomas L. Battles, Jr., was initiated into the Alpha Xi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi at Florida A&M University, and since that time he has served his fraternity diligently in a number of offices at both the province and national levels. A well-prepared leader, Mr. Battles was first elected to the Grand Board of Directors of Kappa Alpha Psi at the 76th Grand Chapter Meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina, and was re-elected to the same position at each of the three subsequent grand chapter meetings. In addition, he has served as Province Polemarch; Senior Province Vice Polemarch; Vice Chairman, Council of Province Polemarchs; Undergraduate Chapter Advisor; and Chief Operating Assistant to the twenty-sixth Grand Polemarch, Dr. Ulysses McBride; and

Whereas, further, his broad experience with Kappa Alpha Psi includes serving as Chairman of the Constitution and Statutes Committee and Hearing and Appeals Committee, as well as Board Representative to the Membership Status Committee. Prior to becoming Grand Polemarch, Mr. Battles was the fraternity's Senior Grand Vice Polemarch; and

Whereas, professionally, Mr. Battles is a regional director for the U.S. Department of Justice, Community Relations Service, where he oversees eight Southeastern states The Community Relations Service is responsible for mediating and conciliating racial and ethnic disputes and providing assistance to communities experiencing hate-crime tension. Mr. Battles was recognized regionally and nationally for his work, including receiving the Distinguished Service Award from the U.S. Attorney General; and

Whereas, in preparation for his career, Thomas L. Battles, Jr., earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and a master's degree in applied social science, both from Florida A&M University. He also has received a certificate in ministerial studies from the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia. He and his wife, Mrs. Geraldine Woods Battles, have been blessed with five children, Thomas Eric Battles (a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi), Clarence, Eric, Artamesa, and Medina; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are grateful for Thomas L. Battles, Jr.'s commitment to serving others and wish him much success as he continues to serve as the thirty-third Grand Polemarch of his fraternity. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor Thomas L. Battles, Jr., thirty-third Grand Polemarch of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., for his dedicated service to his fraternity and his country.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Thomas L. Battles, Jr.