S*0955 Concurrent Resolution, By Peeler
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE
 GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA UPON THE DEATH OF LONGTIME
 CHEROKEE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, J. ARTHUR "BUD" BRIDGES, JR., AND TO
 EXTEND DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS.

   01/27/98  Senate Introduced, adopted, sent to House SJ-340
   01/28/98  House  Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence HJ-12

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA UPON THE DEATH OF LONGTIME CHEROKEE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, J. ARTHUR "BUD" BRIDGES, JR., AND TO EXTEND DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS.

Whereas, the members of the General Assembly were deeply saddened to learn of the death of J. Arthur "Bud" Bridges, Jr., a native of Gaffney, on Saturday, January 17, 1998, at the age of sixty; and

Whereas, he was the son of the late Julius Arthur, Sr., and Ruby Gordon Bridges;

Whereas, "Bud" Bridges is survived by his wife, Jennie Phillips Bridges; two sons, Derek Todd Bridges of Gaffney and Lyle C. Bridges of the home; one foster son, Bobby Joe Wicker of Greenville; one niece reared in the home, Deborah Kiehl of Gaffney; two sisters, Betty Jean Childers and Elizabeth Gorski, both of Gaffney; and one brother, Charlie Gordon of Gaffney; and

Whereas, he received an undergraduate degree from Limestone College, attended Wofford College on a Beta Club scholarship, and continued his education at Winthrop, the University of South Carolina, and Duke University; and

Whereas, Mr. Bridges began his career as an English teacher at Blacksburg High School; in addition to being a certified teacher, he was also licensed as a social worker and in nursing home administration; and

Whereas, "Bud" Bridges served on the Cherokee County School Board for more than twenty years and was scheduled to be honored in February for his service by the South Carolina School Boards Association; and

Whereas, he was also chairman of the school board's curriculum committee; served on the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; former Chairman of the Cherokee County Health Council; former board member of Cherokee County Boys and Girls Club; former member of the Foster Care Board; served on advisory boards at Winthrop University and Pfeiffer College; and was a member of Cherokee Avenue Baptist Church; and

Whereas, Arthur "Bud" Bridges is perhaps best remembered for starting the Cherokee County Disabilities and Special Needs Board (DSN) in 1971 to serve handicapped individuals and was the facility's executive director until his retirement in 1995; and

Whereas, under his leadership, the facility grew from a staff of only three people and a budget of $23,000 to an annual budget of nearly $1.5 million in 1997; and

Whereas, Arthur "Bud" Bridges will be remembered for his dedication to helping people and improving the lives of children in Cherokee County; and

Whereas, he was a special friend and always on a mission to help someone else or a worthwhile cause -- for example, he took adults with special needs to dinner each Christmas and continued to stop by the DSN facility after his retirement to ensure that individual needs were being met; and

Whereas, his presence will be sorely missed by all those with whom he came in contact; and

Whereas, J. Arthur "Bud" Bridges, Jr. was a truly outstanding individual whose contributions to Cherokee County and the State of South Carolina will long be remembered and greatly valued. Now, therefore,

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

That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina express profound sorrow upon the death of longtime Cherokee County Board Member, J. Arthur "Bud" Bridges, Jr., and to extend deepest sympathy to his family and many friends.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to his wife, Mrs. Jennie Phillips Bridges.