Download This Bill in Microsoft Word format
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
H. 3315
STATUS INFORMATION
House Resolution
Sponsors: Rep. G. Brown
Document Path: l:\council\bills\gjk\20073djc03.doc
Introduced in the House on January 15, 2003
Adopted by the House on January 15, 2003
Summary: Ronald Douglas Williams of Bishopville
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/15/2003 House Introduced and adopted HJ-11
View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
TO COMMEND AND CONGRATULATE RETIRING FIRE CHIEF RONALD DOUGLAS WILLIAMS OF BISHOPVILLE, AN OUTSTANDING LEADER AND FIREFIGHTER AND ONE OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S MOST EXEMPLARY PUBLIC SERVANTS, AND TO WISH HIM AND HIS FAMILY THE BEST OF HEALTH AND HAPPINESS, AND SUCCESS IN ALL OF THEIR FUTURE ENDEAVORS, ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT.
Whereas, Ronald Douglas Williams was born on July 12, 1947, in Heath Springs, South Carolina, the son and one of eight children of Randolph Douglas and Frances Williams and graduated from Camden High School in 1965; and
Whereas, Chief Ronald Douglas Williams of the Bishopville Fire Department, known by his friends as Ronnie D. Williams, was first employed by the City of Bishopville as the city's public works and utilities director, a position he held for six years. He moved to the Bishopville Fire Department in 1978, was named Chief of the Bishopville Fire Department in 1982, and after a long and distinguished career, is slated to retire at the end of January 2003; and
Whereas, over the years Chief Williams has seen government change and grow larger. The public works and utilities job he used to hold is now split into two departments, public works and the water and sewer department. When he started as a firefighter, shotgun houses were prevalent, fire protection was said to be flimsy, and houses would catch fire like tinderboxes. Firefighting in Lee County was hardly professional and little thought was given to the protection of firefighters who responded to as many as one hundred calls a year. Chief Williams remembers dashing into houses with a yellow plastic raincoat and a plastic fire helmet; and
Whereas, changes in housing over the years brought improvements from a firefighting perspective. Last year the city ran thirty-one calls of which only four involved structure fires. Chief Williams credits education with helping trim the number of fires. "The smoke alarm campaign has really paid off for us. I don't know if I can name a house that was totally lost that had a smoke detector in it."; and
Whereas, after Hurricane Hugo slammed into the county in 1989, doing unprecedented damage to the city, Chief Williams was one of the men responsible for the City of Bishopville opening right back up and providing the exact same services as were provided before the hurricane hit; and
Whereas, since Williams took over as chief, the department started using fu1l-body protective gear, air packs, composite helmets, and implemented the OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) requirements for the safety of the firefighter. The city also bought two new fire engines and, as a result of improvements in fire prevention protection, the town's Insurance Service Organization rating dropped from a seven to a four, thus reducing local rates for fire and homeowner's insurance. And, as Chief Williams prepares to retire, he leaves the Bishopville Fire Department with a veteran corps of volunteers and full-time staff who have modern equipment and training; and
Whereas, throughout his career, Chief Williams' work on behalf of the people of his adopted Town of Bishopville, has been a labor of love. Building handicap-accessible ramps cannot be found in the fire chief's job description, but Chief Williams never let that stop him from doing something that needed to be done. He has spearheaded or worked on countless projects and his efforts probably will not stop once he retires. "Ronnie's been a lot more to Bishopville than just a fire chief." Bishopville Mayor Tom Alexander said. "It really kind of makes my head spin to go back and think of all the things he 's done."; and
Whereas, serving as supervisor on many projects for the City and people of Bishopville, a list of projects he has been a major part of includes, but is not limited to: restoration of the Opera House on Main Street, renovation of Bishopville City Hall, restoration of the city's council chambers and courtroom, coordination of moving the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial for display at Ashwood Lake, co-founding the South Carolina Cotton Museum, where he is currently vice president of the executive board, and currently leading the fund-raising drive to build a statue for college football great and Heisman Trophy winner, Felix "Doc" Blanchard; and
Whereas, most of Chief Williams' projects have exceeded expectations. The Vietnam Memorial drew more than 25,000 visitors over its Memorial Day visit, the Cotton Museum generates more than $260,000 a year for the area, and the $200,000 city hall renovation project was awarded by the Municipal Association of South Carolina in 1999. Allene McCoy-Almarode, a long-time resident of Lee County, worked with Williams on several projects, and was a co-founder of the Cotton Museum with Williams in 1994. "Of course his job came first, but after that he gave every minute he had to every project in Bishopville." she said. "He has worked tirelessly."; and
Whereas, Chief Williams' leadership and commitment to his community were true assets when Hurricane Hugo hit South Carolina. In addition to handling emergency operations for Lee County, he also oversaw the construction of several houses as part of the Lee County Housing Coalition, a United Way project formed in the aftermath of the hurricane. He supervised the volunteers and personally did carpentry, plumbing, painting, and electrical work on these homes. His leadership and outstanding performance during these trying times resulted in his being awarded the coveted Hettie Rickett Leadership Award by the Municipal Association of South Carolina at its 1992 convention. Williams profoundly thanked his many volunteers and, with characteristic humility, said, "All I did was just make the calls, got the volunteers together, and drove a nail or two."; and
Whereas, Chief Williams is married to Madeline Green Williams and they have two children, Kimberly Green Williams, who is in nursing school, and Gilbert Douglas Williams, who, following in his father's footsteps, is serving his community as a volunteer fireman; and
Whereas, never idle, always where the action is, and forever helping others, Chief Ronald Douglas Williams represents the very best in leadership, teamwork, and community development. He has demonstrated personal and professional commitment and involvement above and beyond his day-to-day responsibilities throughout his career, and his achievements over many years have made a vast difference in the quality of life of his peers. Now, therefore
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the House of Representatives, by this resolution, commend and congratulate retiring Fire Chief Ronald Douglas Williams of Bishopville, an outstanding leader and firefighter and one of South Carolina's most exemplary public servants, and wish him and his family the best of health and happiness, and success in all of their future endeavors, on the occasion of his retirement.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Chief Ronnie D. Williams of Bishopville.
This web page was last updated on Monday, December 7, 2009 at 10:25 A.M.