S*1231 Resolution, By Rankin, Alexander, Allen, Bennett, Campbell, Campsen, 
Cash, Climer, Corbin, Cromer, Davis, Fanning, Gambrell, Goldfinch, Gregory, 
Grooms, Hembree, Hutto, Jackson, Johnson, Kimpson, Leatherman, Malloy, Martin, 
Massey, J. Matthews, M.B. Matthews, McElveen, McLeod, Nicholson, Peeler, Reese, 
Rice, Sabb, Scott, Senn, Setzler, Shealy, Sheheen, Talley, Timmons, Turner, 
Verdin, Williams and Young
 A SENATE RESOLUTION TO COMMEND ELEANOR KATHERINE WELLS FOR HER FIFTEEN YEARS
 OF OUTSTANDING AND DEDICATED LEGAL SERVICE TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE AND TO
 WISH HER MUCH SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

   05/08/18  Senate Introduced and adopted (Senate Journal-page 11)

TO COMMEND ELEANOR KATHERINE WELLS FOR HER FIFTEEN YEARS OF OUTSTANDING AND DEDICATED LEGAL SERVICE TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE AND TO WISH HER MUCH SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

Whereas, many groups in the State have benefitted from the legal expertise of Eleanor Katherine Wells, who has served with distinction on the staffs of three chairmen (Senators Glenn F. McConnell, Larry A. Martin and Luke A. Rankin) of the South Carolina Senate Judiciary Committee; and

Whereas, Katherine is the daughter of postmaster Clifton Wells, and librarian Betty Wells, and sibling of Betsy, John, and Jay. Being born on the Fourth of July in Bennettsville, South Carolina, Katherine believes that all persons celebrate their birthdays with fireworks and parades; and

Whereas, she attended Lander University with her sister, then transferred to Furman University where she majored in history and was a member of the gymnastics team; and

Whereas, after graduation, she worked for the South Carolina State Archives, making a lifelong friend of archivist, historian, and author Alexia Jones Helsley. Then; Katherine lived in Pawleys Island, where she worked as a math teacher and served as director of purchasing for Georgetown County, before coming to Columbia where she earned her juris doctorate from the University of South Carolina School of Law; and

Whereas, she worked for three years with the Savannah law firm of Brannen, Searcy, and Smith, primarily handling insurance defense litigation. After being wooed back to Columbia to marry Professor James F. "Jim" Flanagan, currently the Oliver Ellsworth Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Federal Practice at the University of South Carolina School of Law, she served as a staff attorney for the South Carolina Supreme Court, then handled bankruptcy debtor cases with the law firm of Robinson, Barton, McCarthy, and Calloway before returning to government service with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control where she dealt with bankruptcy and health licensing matters; and

Whereas, during her years of service with the Senate, Katherine has worked on diverse and complex issues involving Alcoholic Beverages, Charitable Raffles, revisions of the Commercial Code, Judicial Merit Selection, a revised Probate Code, Redistricting, Sentencing Reform, and Tax Reform, many of which required numerous years to bring multiple viewpoints to agreement. Her reputation for honesty, forthrightness, diligence, precision, and professionalism have made her a valued and respected member of the Senate staff; and

Whereas, Katherine is the proud step-mother of Jim's daughters Elizabeth, Amy, and Peg and doting grandmother of Nathan, Liam, Boden, and Nolan; and

Whereas, as she retires from the Senate, she looks forward to attending annual performances at Spoleto in Charleston, planning a vacation to Hawaii with Jim, and carries with her the sincere best wishes of the members of the Senate, her Senate-staff colleagues, and her many friends and associates in state government and the private sector. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, commend Eleanor Katherine Wells for her fifteen years of outstanding and dedicated legal service to the South Carolina Senate and wish her much success and happiness in all her future endeavors.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Eleanor Katherine Wells.