H 3644  Resolution, By G.M.Smith, Weeks, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Atkinson, 
Bailey, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Bernstein, Blackwell, Bradley, 
Brawley, Brittain, Bryant, Burns, Bustos, Calhoon, Carter, Caskey, Chumley, 
Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Collins, B.Cox, W.Cox, Crawford, Dabney, 
Daning, Davis, Dillard, Elliott, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Fry, 
Gagnon, Garvin, Gatch, Gilliam, Gilliard, Govan, Haddon, Hardee, Hart, Hayes, 
Henderson-Myers, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, 
Howard, Huggins, Hyde, Jefferson, J.E.Johnson, J.L.Johnson, K.O.Johnson, Jones, 
Jordan, Kimmons, King, Kirby, Ligon, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Magnuson, Martin, 
Matthews, May, McCabe, McCravy, McDaniel, McGarry, McGinnis, McKnight, J.Moore, 
T.Moore, Morgan, D.C.Moss, V.S.Moss, Murphy, Murray, B.Newton, W.Newton, 
Nutt, Oremus, Ott, Parks, Pendarvis, Pope, Rivers, Robinson, Rose, Rutherford, 
Sandifer, Simrill, G.R.Smith, M.M.Smith, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Taylor, Tedder, 
Thayer, Thigpen, Trantham, West, Wetmore, Wheeler, White, Whitmire, R.Williams, 
S.Williams, Willis, Wooten and Yow
 A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH
 CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE PASSING OF HUBERT D. OSTEEN, JR.,
 OF SUMTER, TO CELEBRATE HIS LIFE, AND TO EXTEND THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS
 FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS.

   01/13/21  House  Introduced and adopted (House Journal-page 17)

TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE PASSING OF HUBERT D. OSTEEN, JR., OF SUMTER, TO CELEBRATE HIS LIFE, AND TO EXTEND THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives were deeply saddened by the passing of Hubert D. Osteen, Jr., of Sumter on December 13, 2020, at the venerable age of eighty-four. As chair of Osteen Publishing Company, Mr. Osteen was revered as the dean of newspapermen in South Carolina, and with his passing The Sumter Item, the Sumter community, and South Carolina have lost a stalwart of balanced, reliable journalism. He stood for nothing less than the facts and quietly supported Sumter's growth and development through a lifetime of work; and

Whereas, born in Sumter in 1936, Hubert Osteen was always set to head toward journalism and the newspaper industry, but that didn't mean he wouldn't work to earn his titles. He graduated from two of the most prestigious journalism schools in the nation, the University of Missouri (bachelor's degree in journalism) and Columbia University in New York City (master's degree in journalism), his graduations separated by a three-year stint in the U.S. Air Force; and

Whereas, Mr. Osteen started working for his family's newspaper at the age of thirteen. He worked during the summers and continued to work in the family business through college before joining the Item news staff in 1963. He was the fourth generation of the Osteen family to be involved in newspapers in Sumter, a family involvement that dates back at least one hundred fifty years; and

Whereas, as he set his roots in Sumter and in journalism, Hubert Osteen grew as a leader within his profession. He was named director of the Associated Press News Council (1965) and served as president of the South Carolina Press Association (1977-1978); and

Whereas, because he believed strongly in the importance of local family ownership and its long-term positive impact on the community it serves, his own impact went far beyond his business. He worked behind the scenes to help Sumter move forward while remembering its past. He served on the South Carolina Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Commission and for two decades was chair of the Downtown Revitalization Board. He served thousands of hours on boards and commissions throughout the State and was endlessly generous through his charitable endeavors; and

Whereas, this man of faith also was a member of First Presbyterian Church, where he served as an elder. He was honored as the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce Businessperson of the Year in 1994 and the Sumter YMCA Humanitarian of the Year in 1995; and

Whereas, he retired as chair of Osteen Publishing Company after working his way up to editor and publisher, leaving the flagship and other properties in the hands of his three sons. They honored their dad with this warm tribute: "He was a wonderful father, an iconic newspaperman, and a mentor to many journalists. ... He taught us all the family business, cared deeply about his community, and will be remembered as a great friend and leader"; and

Whereas, Mr. Osteen leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Jacqueline Osteen; his three sons, H. Graham Osteen II (Julia), Kyle B. Osteen (Susan), and John D. "Jack" Osteen (Susan); six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends. As former South Carolina Governor Dick Riley said of Hubert Osteen, "He was a caring conservative who reflected the best ideals for South Carolina ... and was a responsible voice for his readers to receive. We will all miss him so much." Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, express their profound sorrow upon the passing of Hubert D. Osteen, Jr., of Sumter, celebrate his life, and extend the deepest sympathy to his family and many friends.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Mrs. Jacqueline Osteen for the family.