H*5157 Resolution, By White, Cooper, Martin, Stille, Thompson and Townsend
 A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO COMMEND MR. CLARENCE ALLEN II OF ANDERSON COUNTY FOR HIS
 OUTSTANDING ACTS OF BRAVERY IN SAVING THE LIVES OF TWO MEN FACING THE HORROR
 OF DROWNING IN THE ICY WATERS OF LAKE HARTWELL.

   04/18/02  House  Introduced and adopted HJ-77

TO COMMEND MR. CLARENCE ALLEN II OF ANDERSON COUNTY FOR HIS OUTSTANDING ACTS OF BRAVERY IN SAVING THE LIVES OF TWO MEN FACING THE HORROR OF DROWNING IN THE ICY WATERS OF LAKE HARTWELL.

Whereas, Clarence Allen II, a senior at Pendleton High School, can truly be called a hero after he risked his own life to save two fishermen drowning on Lake Hartwell; and

Whereas, on Wednesday, April 3, 2002, Mr. Calvin Mann and his friend, Mr. Tommy Craig, anchored their boat on Hartwell Lake in Eighteen Mile Creek near South Carolina Highway 187 in water about thirty feet deep; and

Whereas, Mr. Mann tripped while moving the anchor and plunged into the icy cold water that had already claimed the lives of two men from Anderson this season; and

Whereas, Mr. Mann's companion, Mr. Craig, also fell into the lake as he rushed to help his friend; neither of the men was wearing life jackets and both were overcome by fear and desperation; and

Whereas, close to a half mile away, eighteen-year-old Clarence Allen II, was in front of his girlfriend's lakeside home and heard the cries for help; he proceeded through the backyard to a neighbor's deck located thirty-five feet from the boat; and

Whereas, with little regard for his own personal safety, Clarence Allen dove into the lake's frigid water with life jackets for the two men and maneuvered the boat ladder so that Mr. Mann could climb aboard; the two then brought the boat to shore with Mr. Craig holding on tightly; and

Whereas, the dramatic scene was soon over and Clarence Allen walked away while paramedics treated the two fishermen; later Mr. Allen received a one hundred dollar restaurant gift certificate from the men he had so courageously rescued; and

Whereas, it is fitting that the members of the House pause to recognize the remarkable heroism of Clarence Allen II and thank him for his selfless acts to save the lives of two strangers. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the South Carolina House of Representatives:

That the members of the House of Representatives, by this resolution, commend Mr. Clarence Allen II of Anderson County for his outstanding acts of bravery in saving the lives of two men facing the horror of drowning in the icy waters of Lake Hartwell.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Clarence Allen II of Anderson County.