H*4632 Concurrent Resolution, By Cotty, Lucas, J.M. Neal, 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, 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, Mack, Maddox, Martin, McCraw, McGee, McKay, M. McLeod, 
W. McLeod, McMahand, Meacham-Richardson, Miller, Moody-Lawrence, J.H. Neal, 
Neilson, Ott, Parks, Perry, Phillips, Pinckney, Quinn, Rhoad, Rice, Riser, 
Robinson, Rodgers, Rutherford, Sandifer, Scott, Seithel, Sharpe, Simrill, 
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 CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO COMMEND REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT J. SHEHEEN FOR HIS
 EXEMPLARY LEGISLATIVE CAREER, TO EXPRESS THE MEMBERS' PROFOUND RESPECT AND
 ADMIRATION FOR HIS INTEGRITY, HONESTY, AND DEVOTION TO THE HOUSE OF
 REPRESENTATIVES, TO EXPRESS THEIR FEELING THAT HE WILL BE SORELY MISSED IN THE
 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AFTER THIS SESSION, AND TO FURTHER WISH HIM WELL IN
 ALL OF HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

   02/16/00  House  Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate HJ-61
   02/17/00  Senate Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence SJ-18

TO COMMEND REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT J. SHEHEEN FOR HIS EXEMPLARY LEGISLATIVE CAREER, TO EXPRESS THE MEMBERS' PROFOUND RESPECT AND ADMIRATION FOR HIS INTEGRITY, HONESTY, AND DEVOTION TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, TO EXPRESS THEIR FEELING THAT HE WILL BE SORELY MISSED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AFTER THIS SESSION, AND TO FURTHER WISH HIM WELL IN ALL OF HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

Whereas, Representative Robert J. Sheheen recently announced that he will not seek reelection as the representative of House District 52 from Kershaw County; and

Whereas, Representative Sheheen is now in his twenty-fourth year of service to the House of Representatives. During his distinguished tenure Bob has served on the Judiciary Committee, and as its chairman from 1980 until 1986 when he was elected Speaker of the House. Bob served as Speaker for eight years until 1994 and since 1994, he has served on the Ways and Means Committee; and

Whereas, Bob has served in the House through several difficult times. As chairman of the Judiciary Committee, he helped the General Assembly resolve a serious constitutional crisis with the Supreme Court over the promulgation of the rules of civil procedure. As Speaker, Bob acted quickly and led the House through the shock of the Lost Trust scandal and supported strong ethics reform, first in the House rules and then in legislation, which is as tough as any ethics laws in the nation; and

Whereas, he has been on the forefront of issues involving the environment and disposal of low-level nuclear waste, the budget, and reapportionment; and

Whereas, the institution of the House of Representatives has greatly benefited from Bob's early efforts as Speaker to modernize its rules and make the House a more efficient body; and

Whereas, the House began the difficult task of restructuring state government in 1993 on his watch as Speaker and with his encouragement; this important work to make state government more accountable continues today; and

Whereas, Bob Sheheen was born in Camden and has lived there all of his life except for those years when he was an undergraduate at Duke University and a law student at the University of South Carolina; we all know how he loves to cheer on his Blue Devils basketball team; and

Whereas, he is a successful attorney in Camden who involves himself in his community and his work with the high school youth at Camden High School where he is an adviser to the Key Club and was a sidelines coach of the place kickers for the football team; and

Whereas, Bob's dedication to the higher calling of public service has been a family tradition of the Sheheen's - from his late father's service as city councilman and Mayor of Camden, his brother Austin's service on the County Chamber of Commerce, and his brother Fred's service as a member of the State Commission on Higher Education; and

Whereas, Bob's friendly, positive attitude permeates his relationships with all legislators; to paraphrase a well-known commercial, "When he speaks, all listen" - he is one legislator whose walk to the podium to address the body silences the everyday legislative din because people know that if Bob Sheheen rises to address an issue, an important message will be delivered with clarity and honesty; while members may not always agree with his point of view, they respect his assured, measured way of voicing his opinion; he makes his points logically but laced with practicality and common sense; and

Whereas, Bob's love and respect for the institution of the House of Representatives is a theme repeated often in his speeches and actions; he has always said the institution is far more important than any individual legislator, and the House is grateful for his tireless work in this regard to restore public confidence in the legislative process; and

Whereas, the House will sorely miss Bob's quick recall of facts, his intellect and attention to legislative detail, and his thorough knowledge of the House rules; and

Whereas, with the passing of time, every man builds his legacy, little by little, day by day. Anyone would be proud to have a legacy such as Robert J. Sheheen has created thus far, and no doubt will continue to build upon. Bob will leave a void in the House that will not be soon or easily filled. Now, therefore,

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

That the General Assembly commends Representative Robert J. Sheheen for his exemplary legislative career, expresses their profound respect and admiration for his integrity, honesty, and devotion to the House of Representatives, expresses their feeling that Bob Sheheen will be sorely missed in the House of Representatives after this session, and further wishes him well in all of his future endeavors.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Representative Bob Sheheen.