S*1399 Concurrent Resolution, By Drummond
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO COMMEND MR. GARY LEE TURNER OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA
 DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE FOR HIS EXEMPLARY CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE, TO EXPRESS
 THE MEMBERS' PROFOUND RESPECT AND ADMIRATION FOR HIS INTEGRITY, HONESTY, AND
 DEVOTION TO THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, TO EXPRESS THEIR FEELING THAT HE WILL
 BE SORELY MISSED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOLLOWING HIS RETIREMENT AT THE END
 OF THE 2000 LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND TO WISH HIM WELL IN ALL OF HIS FUTURE
 ENDEAVORS.

   05/23/00  Senate Introduced, adopted, sent to House SJ-8
   05/23/00  House  Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence HJ-43

TO COMMEND MR. GARY LEE TURNER OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE FOR HIS EXEMPLARY CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE, TO EXPRESS THE MEMBERS' PROFOUND RESPECT AND ADMIRATION FOR HIS INTEGRITY, HONESTY, AND DEVOTION TO THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, TO EXPRESS THEIR FEELING THAT HE WILL BE SORELY MISSED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOLLOWING HIS RETIREMENT AT THE END OF THE 2000 LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND TO WISH HIM WELL IN ALL OF HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

Whereas, Mr. Gary Lee Turner entered state government in 1966 at the South Carolina Tax Commission as a research assistant and now serves the Department of Revenue as an administrator and is retiring after thirty-two years of state service; and

Whereas, in his career, Gary has served and represented the Department of Revenue, along with six Governors, seventeen commissioners, two directors, and the taxpayers of this State; and

Whereas, Gary received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in accounting from the University of South Carolina; has attended the Federal Executive Institute; been the recipient of numerous agency awards; and has played a significant role in important legislation to the agency, the state, taxpayers, and legislators while using the utmost care and due diligence in responding to their requests; and

Whereas, Gary was born in Durham, North Carolina, the son of the late Mr. James Floyd Turner and Mrs. Helen Turner, and is the brother of Don and Tom Turner, then married the late Pat Jones Turner and they lived a devoted life in Columbia, and later Chapin, with their three sons, Chris, Jeff, and Mike; and

Whereas, Gary's friendly, positive attitude smoothed his relationships with all legislators, employees, friends, and acquaintances; and he is well-known to walk and talk softly, while representing an agency that wields a big stick, and his reputation is such that his appearance at the podium to address a legislative committee brings the utmost respect because members know that when Gary Turner rises to address an issue, his message will be delivered clearly, with absolute honesty, and in a measured and reassuring manner; and

Whereas, Gary has understood the words duty and loyalty in their larger context and in their nobler adjuration - to listen quietly, to counsel wisely, and to keep confidences; and

Whereas, the General Assembly will sorely miss Gary's "institutional memory", his intellect, and his attention to legislative minutia; and

Whereas, over time, Gary has been synonymous with the character Houston in James Michener's "The Eagle and the Raven", a man with a "heart of oak, forever loyal to the principles to which he had been bred and upon which he had nurtured during his career, his character forged in the fires of integrity". Now, therefore,

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

That the members of the General Assembly, by this resolution, commend Mr. Gary Lee Turner of the South Carolina Department of Revenue for his exemplary career in public service, express their profound respect and admiration for his integrity, honesty, and devotion to state government, express their feeling that Gary will be sorely missed on his retirement after the 2000 legislative session, and further wish him well in all of his future endeavors.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Mr. Gary Lee Turner