S*1201 Concurrent Resolution, By Mescher
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND ONE OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S MOST
 DISTINGUISHED NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS LEADERS, MR. CHARLES W.
 COKER, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY OF HARTSVILLE, FOR HIS
 LIFELONG CONTRIBUTIONS TO HIS COMMUNITY, COUNTY, STATE, AND NATION AND TO
 PARTICULARLY ACKNOWLEDGE HIS INSTRUMENTAL ROLE IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE
 SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS IN HARTSVILLE.

   04/10/02  Senate Introduced, adopted, sent to House SJ-5
   04/11/02  House  Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence HJ-40

TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND ONE OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S MOST DISTINGUISHED NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS LEADERS, MR. CHARLES W. COKER, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY OF HARTSVILLE, FOR HIS LIFELONG CONTRIBUTIONS TO HIS COMMUNITY, COUNTY, STATE, AND NATION AND TO PARTICULARLY ACKNOWLEDGE HIS INSTRUMENTAL ROLE IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS IN HARTSVILLE.

Whereas, Mr. Charles W. Coker of Hartsville, Chairman of the Board of Sonoco Products Company, is one of South Carolina's most distinguished and respected national and international business leaders; and

Whereas, throughout his career, this son of South Carolina has done as much as any individual has ever done for his community, county, State, and nation; and

Whereas, Mr. Coker was raised in Hartsville and graduated from the Woodberry Forest School in Virginia. In 1955, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Princeton University and in 1957, was awarded a master's degree in business administration from the Harvard Business School; and

Whereas, he began his full-time employment at Sonoco in January 1958. Mr. Coker became Executive Vice President of Sonoco in August 1966 and in 1970 was named President. He assumed the duties and responsibilities of Chief Executive Officer in August 1976. In July 1990, he was named Chairman of the Board and maintained the title and responsibilities of Chief Executive Officer. In April 1998, Mr. Coker relinquished the responsibilities of Chief Executive Officer while maintaining the duties and responsibilities of Chairman of the Board; and

Whereas, Sonoco Products Company is a three billion dollar international company headquartered in Hartsville, which has a strong culture of integrity, honesty, profitable growth, satisfied customers, and community involvement. Sonoco employs twenty thousand people worldwide, has three hundred locations on five continents, and is among the largest Fortune 500 companies in this State; and

Whereas, in addition to his duties at Sonoco, he also serves on the board of Bank of America Corporation, Progress Energy Inc., and Sara Lee Corporation. He previously served on the Board of Springs Industries. He is Chairman of the Board of Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina; and

Whereas, active in civic and business affairs, Mr. Coker is a past member of the Palmetto Business Forum, a past president of the Hartsville Rotary Club, and the Pee Dee Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He has received countless honors and recognition for his unselfish career of service to others; and

Whereas, Mr. Coker was one of the key leaders who helped to found the South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics in Hartsville in August 1988. The opening of the Governor's School for Science and Mathematics was a result of vision, opportunity, and planning by citizens of drive and determination like Mr. Coker, and the school is recognized as one of the best academic institutions of its kind in the nation; and

Whereas, Mr. Coker also headed the campaign committee and launched a major campaign to finance the necessary renovations and needs for the Governor's School for Science and Mathematics. He helped to create a permanent endowment for the Governor's School for Science and Mathematics enabling it to meet the continuing needs of a world class educational institution; and

Whereas, the members of the General Assembly, by this resolution, would like to publicly recognize and thank this truly outstanding man for all he has done for his community, State, and nation and especially for his tremendous efforts in helping to found and in supporting the Governor's School for Science and Mathematics in Hartsville, one of our state's premier educational resources. Now, therefore,

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

That the members of the General Assembly recognize and commend one of South Carolina's most distinguished national and international business leaders, Mr. Charles W. Coker, Chairman of the Board of Sonoco Products Company of Hartsville, for his lifelong contributions to his community, county, State, and nation, and wish to particularly acknowledge his instrumental role in the establishment of the South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics in Hartsville.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Mr. Charles W. Coker.