S 0584  Resolution, By McLeod
 A SENATE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR DEBORAH KOON OF BLYTHEWOOD ON FIFTY
 SUCCESSFUL YEARS WITH CLEMSON PUBLIC SERVICE AND AGRICULTURE, TO COMMEND HER
 FOR THE COMMITTED LABORS OF HALF A CENTURY, AND TO EXTEND BEST WISHES AS SHE
 CONTINUES TO SERVE THE AGENCY.
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   02/28/19  Senate Introduced and adopted (Senate Journal-page 6)

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR DEBORAH KOON OF BLYTHEWOOD ON FIFTY SUCCESSFUL YEARS WITH CLEMSON PUBLIC SERVICE AND AGRICULTURE, TO COMMEND HER FOR THE COMMITTED LABORS OF HALF A CENTURY, AND TO EXTEND BEST WISHES AS SHE CONTINUES TO SERVE THE AGENCY.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate are pleased to learn that on March 3, 2019, Deborah Koon of Blythewood will celebrate fifty years of service with Clemson Public Service and Agriculture; and

Whereas, at the age of sixteen, in May 1968, the young Deborah graduated a year early from Blaney High School. She was the youngest person ever to graduate from Blaney at that time. That fall, she went to work for BellSouth. When asked if she was interested in taking a position at Clemson, her father told her to "apply for the job, act like she had some sense, and get the job because it was a state job and she would never get rich but it had good benefits and a retirement plan." She listened to her dad; and

Whereas, as a result, on March 3, 1969, the seventeen-year-old Deborah began a career that was to reach the half-century mark and beyond. Hired by Clemson University as a clerk stenographer for Clemson University Livestock Poultry Health, located at the Sandhill Experiment Station in Columbia, Deborah took on dual state and federal tasks consisting of answering the phone and clerical duties; and

Whereas, shortly thereafter, she was offered another position, this one with the South Carolina Meat-Poultry Inspection Department within Livestock Poultry Health, as a Secretary I. Later, she was upgraded to administrative assistant to handle the federal meat inspection budget and accounting. On occasion, Deborah also assisted in the lab, preparing slides and media; and

Whereas, after her first federal audit in the 1970s, she was offered a job with the Federal Audit Office in Washington. She declined; and

Whereas, in 1994, she was promoted to her present position, Business Manager II (now Operations Manager II) for Livestock Poultry Health. In 1998, Deborah was asked to help the Sandhill Research and Education Center (Sandhill REC) with supervising its clerical staff and working with budget, procurement, programs, onsite repairs and renovations, and various other duties on a temporary basis. That temporary basis lasted for twenty years; and

Whereas, in 2000, Deborah learned that the new outline USDA/FSIS had published for all the states to use for budget submission was her budget outline. That outline is still used today; and

Whereas, Deborah retired in 2002 but was immediately rehired by Dr. Jones Bryan. At the request of Mac Horton, director of Sandhill REC, in 2004 Deborah served as Clemson's representative for the Sparkleberry Country Fair Committee. After two years of working with the fair, she was asked to help head up and oversee parking. She also assisted with red barn activities for the fair. She served in this role for fourteen years. Also in 2004, she was the recipient of an honorary state FFA degree, awarded by the South Carolina FFA Association Board of Directors for her work with the FFA staff and activities; and

Whereas, the South Carolina Senate deeply appreciates the years of unparalleled dedication that Deborah Koon has devoted to Clemson Public Service and Agriculture in the Palmetto State. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, recognize and honor Deborah Koon of Blythewood on fifty successful years with Clemson Public Service and Agriculture, commend her for the committed labors of half a century, and extend best wishes as she continues to serve the agency.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Deborah Koon.