S*1038 Resolution, By Thomas and Wilson
 A SENATE RESOLUTION TO EXTEND THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH
 CAROLINA SENATE TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF THOMAS ANDERSON ROE, JR., OF
 GREENVILLE WHO PASSED AWAY ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 9, 2000 AND TO RECOGNIZE HIS
 DISTINGUISHED STATESMANSHIP AND SERVICE TO THE STATE AND NATION.

   01/18/00  Senate Introduced and adopted SJ-3

TO EXTEND THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF THOMAS ANDERSON ROE, JR., OF GREENVILLE WHO PASSED AWAY ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 9, 2000 AND TO RECOGNIZE HIS DISTINGUISHED STATESMANSHIP AND SERVICE TO THE STATE AND NATION.

Whereas, on Sunday, January 9, 2000, Greenville County and the State of South Carolina lost one of its most distinguished citizens, Thomas Anderson Roe, Jr.; and

Whereas, Tom Roe was born in Greenville County seventy-two years ago, the son of the late Thomas Anderson and Lelia Cunningham Roe; and

Whereas, Tom Roe is survived by his wife, Shirley Waddell Roe, by his children, Elizabeth and David Mason of Savannah, Georgia, Andy and Tammy Roe of Richmond, Virginia, Amy and Thomas Willcox of Greenville, Phillip Roe and John Roe of Mount Pleasant, and three grandchildren, Tanner Bates Roe, Caroline McIvor Willcox, and Emily Roe Willcox; and

Whereas, Tom Roe received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Furman University in 1948, and did advanced study at LaSalle Extension University and the Brookings Institute in Advanced Study Program on Urban Policy, and received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Furman in 1980; and

Whereas, Tom Roe distinguished himself in the business world by transforming a small building materials supply company, Builders Marts of America, Inc., into an international corporation while serving as its chairman of the board from 1961 to 1987; and

Whereas, Tom Roe demonstrated his political brilliance by founding a national network of state policy think tanks focusing on the philosophy of free enterprise, starting with the South Carolina Policy Council; he served as its founding chairman and on its board of directors; subsequently, forty-two state think tanks have been established; recently Mr. Roe joined the Board of Trustees of the Atlas Economic Research Foundation whose mission is to develop, advise, and support independent public policy institutes throughout the world and currently in thirty-three countries; and

Whereas, Tom was an active member of the South Carolina Republican Party from the 1950's and an advisor to President Ronald Reagan; and

Whereas, in addition to his political astuteness and economic successes, Tom Roe was a philanthropist; he served on the Executive Committee of the Board of the Peace Center for the Performing Arts, he received the Sertoma Distinguished Service Award in 1960 for chairing the committee which established the Greenville Pediatric Dental Clinic; he supported Furman University financially and with his time; and

Whereas, the members of the Senate express their sadness at the passing of this great South Carolinian. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate of South Carolina extends deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Thomas Anderson Roe, Jr., of Greenville who passed away on Sunday, January 9, 2000 and recognizes his distinguished statesmanship and service to the State and nation.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Mrs. Thomas A. Roe, Jr.