H*4009 Concurrent Resolution, By Harvin, Ott and M. McLeod
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS THE SINCERE GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION OF
 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO SHERIFF JOHN J.
 MCDOUGALL OF LEE COUNTY, FLORIDA, FOR HIS TRULY GOOD SAMARITAN DEED OF
 RESCUING NINE YEAR-OLD KENDALL COGDILL OF PINEWOOD FROM THE MIDDLE OF
 INTERSTATE 95 IN CLARENDON COUNTY DURING A BLINDING RAINSTORM WHEN KENDALL WAS
 FRANTICALLY SEEKING HELP AFTER A TRAGIC AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT WHICH CLAIMED THE
 LIFE OF HIS GRANDMOTHER, MRS. JEAN B. PARKS.

   04/29/99  House  Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate HJ-4
   04/29/99  Senate Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence SJ-15

TO EXPRESS THE SINCERE GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO SHERIFF JOHN J. MCDOUGALL OF LEE COUNTY, FLORIDA, FOR HIS TRULY GOOD SAMARITAN DEED OF RESCUING NINE YEAR-OLD KENDALL COGDILL OF PINEWOOD FROM THE MIDDLE OF INTERSTATE 95 IN CLARENDON COUNTY DURING A BLINDING RAINSTORM WHEN KENDALL WAS FRANTICALLY SEEKING HELP AFTER A TRAGIC AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT WHICH CLAIMED THE LIFE OF HIS GRANDMOTHER, MRS. JEAN B. PARKS.

Whereas, on January 23, 1999, a tragic car accident occurred on Interstate 95 in Clarendon County, when, in the middle of a blinding rainstorm while traveling south toward Santee, the car driven by Mrs. Jean B. Parks, who was accompanied by her grandson, nine year-old Kendall Cogdill of Pinewood, hydroplaned off the interstate highway and ran into a tree; and

Whereas, the accident proved fatal to Mrs. Parks but her grandson, Kendall, who received head injuries, left the vehicle to obtain help but no car stopped in the rainstorm, and he found himself on the pavement of the interstate frantically trying to get assistance for his grandmother, and ignoring the inherent dangers of his precarious situation; and

Whereas, John J. McDougall, the sheriff of Lee County, Florida, was, at that moment, traveling south on Interstate 95 in his patrol car returning to his home in Fort Meyers, Florida, from a Washington, D.C. charity event in which he participated; and

Whereas, Sheriff McDougall drove past the accident, but then thought his help was needed, so he backed up one mile in the pouring rain on the shoulder of the road with his blue lights flashing until he got to the scene of the accident; and

Whereas, at this point, Sheriff McDougall found the dazed Kendall in the middle of the road; he scooped him up to safety and proceeded to call for assistance from his patrol car; and

Whereas, Sheriff McDougall provided the lifeline for Kendall that night and without his selfless acts, the tragedy of the car accident which took Mrs. Parks' life could have been compounded with serious consequences to Kendall; and

Whereas, the members of the General Assembly recognize that, but for Sheriff McDougall's heroism and quiet courage, the State might have lost a brave young citizen, who was trying to help the grandmother whom he dearly loved and with whom he had a very special relationship, in the only way he knew how; and

Whereas, this instance of bravery and compassion of Sheriff McDougall for this young child in extreme danger and distress gives us all pause to remember that helping our fellow man is one of the highest callings we should strive for. Now, therefore,

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

The members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina express their sincere gratitude and appreciation to Sheriff John J. McDougall of Lee County, Florida, for his truly good Samaritan deed of rescuing nine year-old Kendall Cogdill, of Pinewood, from the middle of Interstate 95 in Clarendon County during a blinding rainstorm when Kendall was frantically seeking help after a tragic automobile accident which claimed the life of his grandmother, Mrs. Jean B. Parks.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Sheriff John B. McDougall at 14750 Six Mile Cypress Parkway, Fort Meyers, Florida, 33912-4406, Scherrie and Kenny Cogdill, the parents of Kendall Cogdill, and to the Honorable Jeb Bush, Governor of the State of Florida.