S*0797 Concurrent Resolution, By Waldrep and O'Dell
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF FORMER STATE LAWMAKER WILLIAM
 LAW WATKINS, OF ANDERSON, WHO SERVED HIS NATIVE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA IN
 NUMEROUS OUTSTANDING WAYS THROUGHOUT HIS LONG AND PRODUCTIVE LIFE.

   05/05/99  Senate Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence SJ-5
   05/06/99  House  Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence HJ-2

TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF FORMER STATE LAWMAKER WILLIAM LAW WATKINS, OF ANDERSON, WHO SERVED HIS NATIVE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA IN NUMEROUS OUTSTANDING WAYS THROUGHOUT HIS LONG AND PRODUCTIVE LIFE.

Whereas, the members of the General Assembly were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Mr. William Law Watkins on April 11, 1999; and

Whereas, Mr. Watkins was born on December 26, 1910, in Anderson, South Carolina, the son of T. Frank Watkins and Agnes Law Watkins; and

Whereas, Mr. Watkins attended the public schools in Anderson and in 1927 entered Wofford College, where after only three years he received his A.B. degree and was admitted to the University of Virginia School of Law; and

Whereas, Mr. Watkins was elected to Phi Beta Kappa at the University of Virginia and he graduated from the Law School of the University of Virginia in 1933; and

Whereas, Mr. Watkins began practicing law upon graduation and continued virtually without interruption until his retirement in 1992, except for a period of four years' military service in World War II; and

Whereas, Mr. Watkins attained the rank of major in the United States Army, where he served in the 24th Infantry Division in the campaign liberating the Philippine Islands in World War II; and

Whereas, Mr. Watkins served Anderson County in the South Carolina General Assembly from 1935 to 1936, and he also served on the South Carolina Probation, Parole and Pardon Board from 1954 to 1969; and

Whereas, Mr. Watkins has served his local community in numerous ways as a leader, including terms as president of his Rotary Club, the Anderson Chamber of Commerce, the Anderson County Hospital Association, and the Anderson YMCA; and

Whereas, Mr. Watkins served as a life trustee of the Gambrill Foundation, as a trustee of Presbyterian College from 1966 to 1975, and as the first president of the South Carolina Bar Association; and

Whereas, Mr. Watkins served various tenures as a trustee or director of numerous outstanding businesses and industries; and

Whereas, Mr. Watkins was awarded the Order of the Palmetto by Governor David Beasley at the time his 64 years of Rotary membership was observed in 1997; and

Whereas, Mr. Watkins wrote and published a brief history of Anderson County titled "Anderson County: The Things That Made It Happen," and Mr. Watkins recently completed a history of Central Presbyterian Church in honor of his church's 100th birthday to be observed next year; and

Whereas, Mr. Watkins and his wife, Frances Cyton Watkins, parented four daughters, Sally (Mrs. Allen S. Marshall of Columbia, S.C.), Anna (Mrs. A.C. Hattaway, III of Raleigh, N.C.), Betsy (Mrs. A.M. Kinghorn, Jr. of Greenville, S.C.), and Jane (Mrs. Roger W. Mudd of Columbia, S.C.); eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Now, therefore,

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

That the members of the General Assembly recognize the long productive life of Mr. William Law Watkins, who in numerous admirable ways served his community and state as a fine gentleman, citizen and leader.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Mrs. William Law (Frances Cyton) Watkins.