H*4685 Concurrent Resolution, By G.M. Smith, Weeks, Coates, J.H. Neal, G. Brown, 
Allen, Altman, Anthony, Bailey, Bales, Barfield, Battle, Bingham, Bowers, 
Branham, Breeland, J. Brown, R. Brown, Cato, Ceips, Chellis, Clark, Clemmons, 
Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Coleman, Cooper, Cotty, Dantzler, Davenport, Delleney, 
Duncan, Edge, Emory, Freeman, Frye, Gilham, Gourdine, Govan, Hagood, Hamilton, 
Harrell, Harrison, Harvin, Haskins, Hayes, Herbkersman, J. Hines, M. Hines, 
Hinson, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jennings, Keegan, Kennedy, Kirsh, Koon, Leach, 
Lee, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Lloyd, Loftis, Lourie, Lucas, Mack, Mahaffey, 
Martin, McCraw, McGee, McLeod, Merrill, Miller, Moody-Lawrence, J.M. Neal, 
Neilson, Ott, Owens, Parks, Perry, Phillips, Pinson, E.H. Pitts, M.A. Pitts, 
Quinn, Rhoad, Rice, Richardson, Rivers, Rutherford, Sandifer, Scarborough, 
Scott, Sheheen, Simrill, Sinclair, Skelton, D.C. Smith, F.N. Smith, G.R. Smith, 
J.E. Smith, J.R. Smith, W.D. Smith, Snow, Stewart, Stille, Talley, Taylor, 
Thompson, Toole, Townsend, Tripp, Trotter, Umphlett, Vaughn, Viers, Walker, 
Whipper, White, Whitmire, Wilkins, Witherspoon and Young
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE AND COMMEND WILLIAM BURKE WATSON, SR.,
 OF SUMTER ON RECEIVING THE PRESTIGIOUS 2003 SUMTER YMCA HUMANITARIAN OF THE
 YEAR AWARD HONORING HIS DEDICATION AND SERVICE TO THE YMCA AND OTHER COMMUNITY
 ORGANIZATIONS.

   02/03/04  House  Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate HJ-38
   02/04/04  Senate Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence SJ-35

TO CONGRATULATE AND COMMEND WILLIAM BURKE WATSON, SR., OF SUMTER ON RECEIVING THE PRESTIGIOUS 2003 SUMTER YMCA HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD HONORING HIS DEDICATION AND SERVICE TO THE YMCA AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.

Whereas, William Burke Watson, Sr., of Sumter County was honored at the annual meeting of the Sumter YMCA; and

Whereas, the YMCA Humanitarian of the Year Award has been given annually since 1982 to the person viewed by the organization as most dedicated and committed to both the YMCA and to other community activities in providing his time, energy, and resources; and

Whereas, Burke Watson was born in Sumter in 1926 and spent much of his life working with various civic organizations, most notably the Optimist Club where he began a youth boxing program in the 1950s. In 1977, the Optimist Club recognized his contributions by naming the youth center in his honor; and

Whereas, a World War II veteran and accomplished athlete, he attended The Citadel where he won his boxing division in the Individual Southern Conference Championship; and

Whereas, Mr. Watson was previously recognized as the Young Man of the Year in 1960 and is a member of The Citadel Athletic Hall of Fame and the Sumter Athletic Hall of Fame; and

Whereas, Mr. Watson started out selling vacuum cleaners and furniture in Charleston and returned to his beloved Sumter in the 1950s and founded Brown-Watson Real Estate with his partner, Clifton Brown; and

Whereas, Burke Watson gave of his time and talents through the years by serving as president of the Sumter YMCA, the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce, the Sumter Board of Realtors, the Home Builders Association of Sumter and Charleston, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Crosswell Children's Home; and

Whereas, Mr. Watson and his wife, Jean Carr Watson, were married for 52 years before her death, raised four children, and have eight grandchildren. The Watsons' legacy of service to the community is carried on by their children: Burke, Mike, Kathy, and Kell who all give back to their communities in various ways; and

Whereas, Mr. Watson is now semi-retired but continues to go to the Brown-Watson office every day and continues to contribute so much of his time to many community activities; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina General Assembly are proud to recognize Burke Watson for his lifetime of work and commitment to both the YMCA and the community. Now, therefore,

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

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly commend and congratulate William Burke Watson, Sr., of Sumter on receiving the prestigious 2003 Sumter YMCA Humanitarian of the Year Award honoring his dedication and service to the YMCA and other community organizations.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to William Burke Watson, Sr., of Sumter.