H*5184 Resolution, By Rhoad, Allen, Allison, Altman, Askins, Bailey, Bales, 
Barfield, Barrett, Battle, Bowers, Breeland, G. Brown, H. Brown, J. Brown, 
T. Brown, Campsen, Canty, Carnell, Cato, Chellis, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cooper, 
Cotty, Dantzler, Davenport, Delleney, Easterday, Edge, Emory, Fleming, Frye, 
Gamble, Gilham, Gourdine, Govan, Hamilton, Harrell, Harris, Harrison, Harvin, 
Haskins, Hawkins, Hayes, J. Hines, M. Hines, Hinson, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, 
Inabinett, Jennings, Keegan, Kelley, Kennedy, Kirsh, Klauber, Knotts, Koon, 
Lanford, Law, Leach, Lee, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Lloyd, Loftis, Lourie, Lucas, 
Mack, Maddox, Martin, McCraw, McGee, McKay, M. McLeod, W. McLeod, McMahand, 
Meacham-Richardson, Miller, Moody-Lawrence, J.H. Neal, J.M. Neal, Neilson, Ott, 
Parks, Perry, Phillips, Pinckney, Quinn, Rice, Riser, Robinson, Rodgers, 
Rutherford, Sandifer, Scott, Seithel, Sharpe, Sheheen, Simrill, D.C. Smith, 
F. Smith, J. Smith, R. Smith, D. Smith, Stille, Stuart, Taylor, Townsend, Tripp, 
Trotter, Vaughn, Walker, Webb, Whatley, Whipper, Wilder, Wilkes, Wilkins, 
Witherspoon, Woodrum and Young-Brickell
 A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO COMMEND AND CONGRATULATE JOSEPH D. THOMAS, SR., M.D., OF
 DENMARK, FOR FIFTY YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS
 OF BAMBERG COUNTY IN THE PRACTICE OF FAMILY MEDICINE, AND TO THANK HIM
 PROFUSELY FOR ALL OF THE GENUINE LOVE, CARE, AND CONCERN HE HAS EXPRESSED OVER
 THE PAST FIFTY YEARS AS THEIR LOYAL FRIEND AND ADVISOR AND TRUSTED FAMILY
 PHYSICIAN.

   06/22/00  House  Introduced and adopted HJ-9

TO COMMEND AND CONGRATULATE JOSEPH D. THOMAS, SR., M.D., OF DENMARK, FOR FIFTY YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS OF BAMBERG COUNTY IN THE PRACTICE OF FAMILY MEDICINE, AND TO THANK HIM PROFUSELY FOR ALL OF THE GENUINE LOVE, CARE, AND CONCERN HE HAS EXPRESSED OVER THE PAST FIFTY YEARS AS THEIR LOYAL FRIEND AND ADVISOR AND TRUSTED FAMILY PHYSICIAN.

Whereas, Joseph D. Thomas, Sr., M.D., a native of Fairfax, began his undergraduate education at the Citadel and later graduated from Yale University. During World War II, Dr. Thomas served in the United States Army from 1943 to 1946. He obtained his medical degree from the Medical College of South Carolina and completed a residency in Jersey City, New Jersey. This year, 2000, marks fifty years of Dr. Thomas' loyal and faithful service to the citizens and residents of Denmark, surrounding communities, and Bamberg County; and

Whereas, in 1950 Dr. Thomas began his practice of medicine in Denmark, only twenty-eight miles from his hometown of Fairfax. The following year he was called back into active duty with the U.S. Army after the North Korean communists invaded the Republic of South Korea. After completing his tour of duty in the Korean War, Dr. Thomas returned to Denmark and the practice of family medicine; and

Whereas, in the years since Dr. Thomas' return from military service, he has served his community in many different and special ways. Not only has he been a compassionate physician and friend, but a civic leader as well. As a member of the First Baptist Church he has been a Sunday School teacher, trustee, department superintendent, and deacon. He has been actively involved with the Boy Scouts of America and the Lion's Club; and

Whereas, in 1984 the Western Carolina Higher Education Commission of USC, Salkehatchie presented Dr. Thomas with the Outstanding Contribution to the Community Award. In 1989 he was chosen as the Outstanding Citizen of the Year in Bamberg County. In 1990, Dr. Thomas was highly honored by his fellow physicians and colleagues by being named the 1990 Family Physician of the Year by the South Carolina Academy of Family Physicians. In honoring Dr. Thomas as the Family Physician of the Year, the Academy recognized his commitment to his family, his community, and family practice; and

Whereas, through the years, Dr. Thomas has not only remained faithful to his profession by serving his patients, but also by staying actively involved in the medical community. He is a past president of the Edisto and Bamberg medical societies and has served on the Bamberg County Hospital Board of Trustees and as its Chief of Staff. He represented family practice as he served on the South Carolina Medical Association Board as a council member and vice president. He is a diplomat of the American Board of Family Practice and holds memberships in the American Association of Family Practitioners, the South Carolina Association of Family Practitioners, the Bamberg County Medical Society, the South Carolina Medical Association, the American Medical Association, and the Southern Medical Association; and

Whereas, after fifty years of devoted service to the Bamberg County area as a family practitioner, "Doc" Thomas' well-worn black doctor's bag has earned him the love, affection, and genuine respect from his extended family -- the people of Denmark and the surrounding communities. In his unflaggingly dependable, unassuming, and gently humorous way, he has been there, caring for the sick, bringing babies into the world, and easing the elderly into the next one. Today he continues to practice with this same selfless dedication. What's more, his black doctor's bag remains very much in use for Dr. Thomas is one of those rare physicians who still makes house calls; and

Whereas, in 1952, Dr. Thomas was married to the former Betty Heroit Guess whom he met when he returned to Denmark to open his medical practice in 1950. They are the parents of three children, Joseph D. Thomas, Jr., Jane Heriot T. Grimball, and James St. Clair Thomas, and seven grandchildren. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the House of Representatives, by this resolution, commend and congratulate Joseph D. Thomas, M.D., of Denmark, for fifty years of outstanding service to the citizens and residents of Bamberg County in the practice of family medicine, and to thank him profusely for all of the genuine love, care, and concern he has expressed over the past fifty years as their loyal friend and advisor and trusted family physician.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Joseph D. Thomas, Sr., M.D., of Denmark.