H*5075 Resolution, By G.M. Smith, Weeks, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, 
Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bannister, Barfield, Bedingfield, Bernstein, 
Bingham, Bowen, Bowers, Branham, Brannon, G.A. Brown, R.L. Brown, Burns, 
Chumley, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cole, H.A. Crawford, K.R. Crawford, 
Crosby, Daning, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Edge, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, 
Forrester, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gambrell, George, Gilliard, Goldfinch, Govan, 
Hamilton, Hardee, Hardwick, Harrell, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Herbkersman, Hiott, 
Hixon, Hodges, Horne, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Kennedy, King, Knight, 
Limehouse, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mack, McCoy, McEachern, M.S. McLeod, 
W.J. McLeod, Merrill, Mitchell, D.C. Moss, V.S. Moss, Munnerlyn, Murphy, Nanney, 
Neal, Newton, Norman, Norrell, R.L. Ott, Owens, Parks, Patrick, Pitts, Pope, 
Putnam, Quinn, Ridgeway, Riley, Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Ryhal, 
Sabb, Sandifer, Sellers, Simrill, Skelton, G.R. Smith, J.E. Smith, J.R. Smith, 
Sottile, Southard, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Toole, 
Vick, Wells, Whipper, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis and Wood
 A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR DOUG MATHIS, ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF OF
 THE SUMTER FIRE DEPARTMENT, UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AFTER
 FORTY-TWO YEARS OF OUTSTANDING AND SACRIFICIAL SERVICE, AND TO WISH HIM
 CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

   04/09/14  House  Introduced and adopted (House Journal-page 3)

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR DOUG MATHIS, ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF OF THE SUMTER FIRE DEPARTMENT, UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AFTER FORTY-TWO YEARS OF OUTSTANDING AND SACRIFICIAL SERVICE, AND TO WISH HIM CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

Whereas, it is altogether fitting and proper that the members of the House of Representatives of the State of South Carolina should pause in their deliberations to express their gratitude to Assistant Fire Chief Doug Mathis for his significant contributions to the Sumter Fire Department; and

Whereas, immediately after graduating from high school, he was given the choice between joining the Sumter Fire Department or the Sumter Police Department, and he chose the fire department, fulfilling the lifelong dream of many youngsters to become a fireman; and

Whereas, Assistant Fire Chief Mathis, one of the oldest officers with the fire department at age sixty-two, has seen many beneficial changes in the fire department, such as the change from rubber uniforms to cotton ones and the construction of more fire stations throughout Sumter County; and

Whereas, after thirty years of service and shortly after being promoted to fire chief, Chief Mathis decided to retire in 2001, but he could not refuse when the fire department asked him to return and serve as assistant fire chief; and

Whereas, aware of the emotional impact that firefighters experience when they respond to crises in their own communities, he tried to help firefighters to deal with those emotions by giving these first responders the opportunity to express them; and

Whereas, believing there is not a better job in the world, Doug Mathis appreciates the privilege of working with the brave men and women of the Sumter Fire Department; and

Whereas, he plans to retire at the end of June 2014, but he will still be available should the fire department need him again; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are grateful for the years of unparalleled dedication that Doug Mathis has devoted to the Sumter Fire Department and wish him many years of enjoyment in his well-earned retirement. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the House of Representatives of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, recognize and honor Doug Mathis, Assistant Fire Chief of the Sumter Fire Department, upon the occasion of his retirement after forty-two years of outstanding and sacrificial service, and wish him continued success and happiness in all his future endeavors.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Assistant Fire Chief Doug Mathis.