South Carolina General Assembly
121st Session, 2015-2016

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Bill 5434


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A HOUSE RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND CONGRATULATE THE HONORABLE SHARON PEARSON BROWNLEE, FORMER MAYOR OF LAURENS, FOR THE REMARKABLE VISION, LEADERSHIP, AND ACHIEVEMENTS THAT CHARACTERIZED HER TEN YEARS OF SERVICE AS MAYOR AND TO CELEBRATE THE OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY ACHIEVEMENTS OF HER LEADERSHIP.

Whereas, for ten years, the Honorable Sharon Pearson Brownlee served with distinction as mayor of the City of Laurens, and from 2005 to 2015, under her dedicated, highly effective leadership, Laurens made extraordinary advances; and

Whereas, the list of achievements during her administration is an impressive one. Her record includes the implementation of a hospitality tax; the establishment of a recreation department; the revitalization of Laurens City Park through the construction of three baseball fields, six tennis courts, a football field, a playground, and parking; a successful litter campaign; the building of a recycling center, as well as two fire stations, the latter of which contributed to a lower insurance rating; and the purchase of the Sun Trust Building to house police administration; and

Whereas, serving as the first female mayor of her city, Sharon Brownlee also renovated the old police/fire station for dispatch and the police department; revolutionized the police department with state-of-the-art high-tech equipment and a training center, now used by many police departments across the State for training; installed surveillance cameras across the city; facilitated the building of an amphitheater and kid park with TLC's television show Town Haul; and beautified the downtown business area with gardens and irrigation; and

Whereas, in addition, she saw to the purchase of a trolley for downtown events; the planning to build a state-of-the-art recreation center and the hiring of a contractor; the creation of a summer concert series with artists such as Outshyne, Justin Moore, Easton Corbin, Tracy Lawrence, and many more; the renovation of River Street Park; the demolishing of many dilapidated buildings; and the installation of new street signage; and

Whereas, Sharon Brownlee believes strongly in personal involvement with her community, and her convictions have led her to serve that community, as well as the broader community of South Carolina, in several capacities. These include membership in the Laurens Rotary Club (first female president), Laurens County Chamber of Commerce Board (first female president), Laurens County Chamber of Commerce Past Presidents' Council, Laurens County Chamber of Commerce Workforce Development Committee, Laurens County Development Corporation, United Way Board (chair of capital campaign), Laurens Family YMCA Board, South Carolina Regional Housing Authority (commissioner), Laurens County Museum Board, and Literacy Council. She also attends Chestnut Ridge Baptist Church; and

Whereas, on the home front, Sharon Brownlee is the proud mother of two and delighted grandmother of five. As an experienced businesswoman and the present owner and president of SPB and Associates, she has employed thousands of citizens at more than one hundred businesses over nearly thirty years; and

Whereas, the House of Representatives is grateful to former Mayor Brownlee for her committed and distinguished leadership and service and wish her well in all her future endeavors. 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 congratulate the Honorable Sharon Pearson Brownlee, former mayor of Laurens, for the remarkable vision, leadership, and achievements that characterized her ten years of service as mayor and celebrate the outstanding community achievements of her leadership.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Honorable Sharon Pearson Brownlee.

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