S*1442 Concurrent Resolution, By McConnell
 A Concurrent Resolution to congratulate Alice Talbird Beckett upon the
 fiftieth anniversary of her admission to the South Carolina Bar on June 10,
 1946.

   06/12/96  Senate Introduced, adopted, sent to House SJ-7
   06/12/96  House  Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence HJ-75

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO CONGRATULATE ALICE TALBIRD BECKETT UPON THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF HER ADMISSION TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA BAR ON JUNE 10, 1946.

Whereas, Alice Talbird Beckett of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina was admitted to the South Carolina Bar fifty years ago on June 10, 1946; and

Whereas, Miss Beckett was one of the first one hundred women lawyers in South Carolina; and

Whereas, Miss Beckett was born in Beaufort in 1908 and, at the age of 87, is the oldest living woman lawyer in South Carolina; and

Whereas, Miss Beckett graduated with honors from Beaufort High School in 1926 and then attended Holy Cross Academy in Washington, D.C. and St. Joseph's Academy in Sumter; and

Whereas, during World War II, Miss Beckett worked with the prestigious law firm of Legge and Gibbs of Charleston and studied law under the tutelage of Lionel K. Legge, who later sat on the South Carolina Supreme Court; and

Whereas, after passing the South Carolina Bar with the highest average, she became the first woman to practice law in Walterboro; and

Whereas, Miss Beckett practiced law for forty-three years, specializing in real estate and wills and estates, making a name for herself as a respected title lawyer; and

Whereas, Miss Beckett was the second woman in Walterboro's history to be elected City Alderman; and

Whereas, Miss Beckett was one of the founders of the Independent Party, which developed into the Republican Party; and

Whereas, Miss Beckett has actively served her faith, Roman Catholicism, by helping found St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Walterboro, and later by organizing the real estate affairs of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston; and

Whereas, Miss Beckett has served her community as a volunteer for the Red Cross, the Colleton County Historical Society, and the Business and Professional Women's Club; and

Whereas, Miss Beckett was a trailblazer forging the path for future generations of women lawyers; and

Whereas, through her exemplary conduct, Miss Beckett led the way to increasing the number of women in the South Carolina Bar to over two thousand in 1996 from only ten in 1946; and

Whereas, Miss Beckett's advice to young lawyers is that "honesty is the best policy" and, for women lawyers, "be ladies" and "expect and demand respect;" and

Whereas, Miss Beckett's courage, wisdom, and determination as reflected in her life story make her an excellent role model for all South Carolinians, both women and men. Now, therefore,

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

That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, express sincere congratulations to Alice Talbird Beckett on the occasion of her Golden Anniversary as a member of the South Carolina Bar.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Alice T. Beckett, Cooper Hall, 937 Bowman Road, Apt. 225, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464.