H*3623 Concurrent Resolution, By J. Brown, Howard and J.H. Neal
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE REVEREND DOCTOR WESTBERRY HOMER NEAL
 OF RICHLAND COUNTY FOR HIS MORE THAN HALF CENTURY OF FAITHFUL SERVICE AS A
 PASTOR, DEDICATED EDUCATOR, AND LIFE-LONG HUMANITARIAN, AND CONGRATULATING HIM
 UPON RECEIVING THE NATIONAL ALUMNI COUNCIL OF THE UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND,
 INC.'S OUTSTANDING ALUMNUS AWARD.

   03/02/99  House  Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate HJ-9
   03/03/99  Senate Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence SJ-8

RECOGNIZING THE REVEREND DOCTOR WESTBERRY HOMER NEAL OF RICHLAND COUNTY FOR HIS MORE THAN HALF CENTURY OF FAITHFUL SERVICE AS A PASTOR, DEDICATED EDUCATOR, AND LIFE-LONG HUMANITARIAN, AND CONGRATULATING HIM UPON RECEIVING THE NATIONAL ALUMNI COUNCIL OF THE UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND, INC.'S OUTSTANDING ALUMNUS AWARD.

Whereas, the Reverend Dr. Westberry Homer Neal was born in 1908 in Hopkins, South Carolina, the eighth child in a family of sixteen children born to Jessie and Minnie Holley Neal; and

Whereas, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1935 and his Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1956 from Morris College in Sumter, South Carolina; and

Whereas, Dr. Neal has completed additional studies at Columbia University and at the Union Theological Seminary in New York City; and

Whereas, in recognition of his many achievements, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in 1959 by his alma mater, Morris College; and

Whereas, for fifty-five years, Dr. Neal served as a dedicated educator; and

Whereas, he faithfully served as pastor of Beulah Baptist Church for twenty-two years; Mt. Moriah Baptist Church for forty years; First Nazareth Baptist Church for forty years; and both Mt. Zion and Weeping Mary Baptist Churches for four years each; and St. John Baptist Church in Hopkins for fifty-four years; and

Whereas, Dr. Neal has served on the Board of Trustees of Morris College for fifty years -- thirty-five of those years as chairman, which makes him the longest serving Chairman of the Board of any institution of higher learning in the nation; and

Whereas, he served as interim to the President's office at Morris College from 1970-1971 and 1973-1974; and

Whereas, on July 1, 1985, Dr. Neal was named Chairman Emeritus to the Morris College Board of Trustees, and also chairs the college's honorary degree selection committee; and

Whereas, he has served as a member of the Foreign Mission Board of the National Baptist Convention of America for fifty-two years and state representative to the Foreign Mission Board for fourteen years; and

Whereas, Dr. Neal currently is serving as Pastor Emeritus of Beulah, Mt. Moriah, and First Nazareth Baptist Churches; moderator of the Gethsemane Baptist Association, Upper Division; member of the advisory committee for continuing education of the University of South Carolina and the Connie Maxwell Home; Vice-Chairman of the Respite House; a member of the Department of Social Services Board of Richland County; and

Whereas, he is a mason, a member of the United Order of Odd-Fellows, the Elks, the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and has authored a play entitled Physical Fitness; and

Whereas, on February 5, 1999, the National Alumni Council of the United Negro College Fund, Inc. presented its Outstanding Alumnus Award to Dr. Neal for the outstanding contributions he has made to Morris College, his community, and the United Negro College Fund, Inc. 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, by this resolution publicly recognize the Reverend Dr. Westberry Homer Neal for his more than half century of faithful service as a pastor, dedicated educator, and life-long humanitarian and congratulate him upon receiving the National Alumni Council of the United Negro College Fund, Inc.'s Outstanding Alumnus Award.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Reverend Dr. Westberry Homer Neal.