H*4764 Concurrent Resolution, By W.D. Smith, Allen, Allison, Altman, Askins, 
Bales, Barfield, Barrett, Battle, Bingham, Bowers, Breeland, G. Brown, J. Brown, 
R. Brown, Campsen, Carnell, Cato, Chellis, Clyburn, Coates, Cobb-Hunter, 
Coleman, Cooper, Cotty, Dantzler, Davenport, Delleney, Easterday, Edge, Emory, 
Fleming, Freeman, Frye, Gilham, Gourdine, Govan, Hamilton, Harrell, Harrison, 
Harvin, Haskins, Hayes, J. Hines, M. Hines, Hinson, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, 
Jennings, Keegan, Kelley, Kennedy, Kirsh, Klauber, Knotts, Koon, Law, Leach, 
Lee, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Lloyd, Loftis, Lourie, Lucas, Mack, Martin, McCraw, 
McGee, McLeod, Meacham-Richardson, Merrill, Miller, Moody-Lawrence, J.H. Neal, 
J.M. Neal, Neilson, Ott, D. Owens, Parks, Perry, Phillips, Quinn, Rhoad, Rice, 
Riser, Rivers, Rodgers, Rutherford, Sandifer, Scarborough, Scott, Sharpe, 
Sheheen, Simrill, Sinclair, D.C. Smith, F.N. Smith, G.M. Smith, J.E. Smith, 
J.R. Smith, Snow, Stille, Stuart, Talley, Taylor, Thompson, Townsend, Tripp, 
Trotter, Vaughn, Walker, Webb, Weeks, Whatley, Whipper, White, Wilder, Wilkins, 
Witherspoon, A. Young and J. Young
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE APPRECIATION OF THE MEMBERS OF THE
 GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE OF THEIR COLLEAGUE,
 REPRESENTATIVE AL ROBINSON, AS HE LEAVES THE HOUSE TO ASSUME DUTIES IN
 WASHINGTON, D.C., WITH THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WISHING FOR
 HIM A SUCCESSFUL AND PRODUCTIVE CAREER IN FEDERAL SERVICE.

   02/19/02  House  Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate HJ-39
   02/20/02  Senate Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence SJ-9

EXPRESSING THE APPRECIATION OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE OF THEIR COLLEAGUE, REPRESENTATIVE AL ROBINSON, AS HE LEAVES THE HOUSE TO ASSUME DUTIES IN WASHINGTON, D.C., WITH THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WISHING FOR HIM A SUCCESSFUL AND PRODUCTIVE CAREER IN FEDERAL SERVICE.

Whereas, the members of the General Assembly have learned that their colleague, Representative Alfred B. "Al" Robinson, Jr., is leaving the House of Representatives in order to assume a post with the Wage and Hour Division of the United States Department of Labor; and

Whereas, this stunning news is all the more amazing in that a member of the General Assembly, in an election year and in the midst of a budget crisis that has the members of the Ways and Means Committee digging for loose change in State House sofas, has been successfully tempted to leave the most august legislative body in the Western World; and

Whereas, Representative Robinson, since his arrival in 1993 as a House member, has elevated the tone of the debate in the General Assembly with his devotion to windmill tilting and punching the hot air balloons that float continuously to and fro in the State House Complex; and

Whereas, he has allowed no unctuous sentiment to go unskewered and no emotional appeal to go unchallenged; and

Whereas, any member of the General Assembly who has survived the flag debates and kept a good humor is a likely candidate for further service and success on a broader stage; and

Whereas, after the dust of his departure settles, his colleagues who remain can reflect on a legislative career well begun and greatly fulfilled, which serves an example for all men and women of strong views who come to serve and by hard work, keen insight, affability, and good humor, are able to make a difference and thereby make a great contribution in their service; and

Whereas, he has graciously, patiently, and intelligently served as the annual sponsor of the Omnibus Tax Bill, a true test of the equanimity of any statesman as he daily moved through the Statehouse lobby trailed by pleading lobbyists; and

Whereas, to the trained State House observer, Al's sometimes lugubrious appearance and demeanor bely a rapier wit of untold sarcastic magnitude, capable of skewering the unsophisticated or unsuspecting legislator or lobbyist; and

Whereas, he has not only suffered fools gladly, but has also seemed to enjoy the sport of it; and

Whereas, he is a jack of all trades and a master of them all, as evidenced by his far flung professional, intellectual, and legislative pursuits; and

Whereas, he has been able to temper his passionately held beliefs with his deep respect for his representative role in the legislative process; and

Whereas, he has served his county and state with intellectual distinction and personal honor, the ever constant gentleman-statesman. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the General Assembly of South Carolina expresses the appreciation of its members for the distinguished service of their colleague, Representative Al Robinson, as he leaves the House to assume duties in Washington, D.C., with the United States Department of Labor and wishing him a successful and productive career in federal service.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Representative Al Robinson.