H*5300 Resolution, By Walker, Davenport, Lee, Littlejohn, Sinclair, W.D. Smith, 
Talley, Vaughn, Wilder, Allen, 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, 
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, Koon, Law, Leach, Limehouse, 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, D.C. Smith, F.N. Smith, 
G.M. Smith, J.E. Smith, J.R. Smith, Snow, Stille, Stuart, Taylor, Thompson, 
Townsend, Tripp, Trotter, Webb, Weeks, Whatley, Whipper, White, Wilkins, 
Witherspoon, A. Young and J. Young
 A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO COMMEND THE HONORABLE MERITA ANN "RITA" ALLISON FOR HER
 MANY YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF HER DISTRICT AND TO THE
 CITIZENS OF THIS STATE AS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND TO WISH
 HER GREAT SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN THE YEARS TO COME.

   05/21/02  House  Introduced and adopted HJ-17

TO COMMEND THE HONORABLE MERITA ANN "RITA" ALLISON FOR HER MANY YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF HER DISTRICT AND TO THE CITIZENS OF THIS STATE AS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND TO WISH HER GREAT SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN THE YEARS TO COME.

Whereas, Rita Allison will be leaving her seat in the House of Representatives at the end of the 2001-2002 session, having served the people of this State with dignity, pride, and determination for the past ten years; and

Whereas, Rita Allison is a graduate of the John Roberts School of Fashion Merchandising who has spent many years teaching self-development and modeling, and as a former Special Programs Director for Springs Industry-Lyman, she has worked with people of all ages in a variety of educational and recreational areas for thirty years; and

Whereas, Rita Allison has served with distinction in the House of Representatives since her election in 1993, and during this time she has worked on both the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Education and Public Works Committee; and

Whereas, during her time in the House of Representatives, Rita Allison has risen to leadership positions in several areas; she currently serves as the Assistant Majority Leader, having served as the Majority Whip during the 1998-99 Session, and has chaired both the General Assembly's and GOP Women's Caucus as well as the Ways and Means subcommittee on K-12 education; and

Whereas, Rita Allison has been honored for her outstanding work with a variety of citizen interest groups within the Palmetto State including being named "Legislator of the Year" by victim's rights advocates, the National Federation of the Blind, the South Carolina School Board Association, and by advocates for adult education; and

Whereas, her service in the House of Representatives has been exemplary, yet Rita Allison has done even more for others through her work with school and community service groups; she is a lifetime member and former president of the South Carolina Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), President of the South Carolina United States Jaycee Auxiliaries, and for eight years served on the Spartanburg County District Five Board of Trustees; and

Whereas, Representative Allison has served on the Board of Directors for the Middle Tyger Community Center for the March of Dimes and for the Miss South Carolina Pageant for thirty years; she has also shared her time and talents as a Girl Scout leader for ten years; and

Whereas, Rita Allison is married to William Ronald Allison, and they are the loving and devoted parents of their daughter, Katina Kelley; and

Whereas, Rita Allison is truly a Southern Lady whose charm, grace, and glowing smile will be sorely missed by her colleagues in the House of Representatives, and it is with warmest regards and best wishes that the House of Representatives now says farewell to one of its best and brightest members. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the South Carolina House of Representatives:

That the members of the House of Representatives, by this resolution, commend the Honorable Merita Ann "Rita" Allison for her many years of dedicated service to the people of her district and to the citizens of this State as a member of the House of Representatives and wish her great success and happiness in the years to come.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Honorable Rita Allison.