S*0599 Resolution, By Moore
 A SENATE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING WITH GRATITUDE STEPHEN FELKER, CEO AND
 CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF AVONDALE MILLS IN AIKEN COUNTY, ON HIS TIRELESS AND
 COMPASSIONATE EFFORTS TO RESTORE THE PLANT'S OPERATION IN THE WAKE OF THE
 CATASTROPHIC TRAIN COLLISION JANUARY 9, 2005, AND TO RECLAIM THE FUTURE OF
 GRANITEVILLE.

   03/08/05  Senate Introduced and adopted SJ-8

RECOGNIZING WITH GRATITUDE STEPHEN FELKER, CEO AND CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF AVONDALE MILLS IN AIKEN COUNTY, ON HIS TIRELESS AND COMPASSIONATE EFFORTS TO RESTORE THE PLANT'S OPERATION IN THE WAKE OF THE CATASTROPHIC TRAIN COLLISION JANUARY 9, 2005, AND TO RECLAIM THE FUTURE OF GRANITEVILLE.

Whereas, the Graniteville Company began operations in 1845, and its founder William Gregg built the old Graniteville Company and many of the surrounding homes in the community; and

Whereas, on April 29, 1996, Avondale Mills bought the textile assets of the Graniteville Company, with Stephen Felker as CEO and Chairman of Avondale Mills during the acquisition; and

Whereas, under his leadership, Avondale Mills began modernizing the plants to compete successfully in a global economy during a time when the textile industry was suffering great decline in the United States. The investment in the Avondale plants in Graniteville created an atmosphere of competitiveness, hope, and pride in the town and the dedication provided job security for company employees; and

Whereas, Avondale Mills in Graniteville has enjoyed many successes with superior textile products including denim and other quality textile products while poised to overcome foreign competition; and

Whereas, on January 6, 2005, early on a Thursday morning, a train traveling to Graniteville left the main track and hit a parked train on a side track. It was a catastrophic head-on collision, in which cars piled, buckled, and were stacked one on another in the aftermath of the collision and all the while spilling deadly chlorine from a ruptured tanker, killing nine people and injuring over two hundred others; and

Whereas, the ruptured tanker held ninety tons of deadly chlorine, and approximately seventy tons of it spilled causing untold damage to cars, trucks, firefighting equipment, and other vehicles; some of Avondale Mills' buildings, plants, and equipment; and the steam plant that housed the boilers, the Woodhead Plant, Gregg Plant, a finishing plant, Hickman Mill and the computer operating system for the mill; and

Whereas, from the very beginning of this difficult time for the community of Graniteville, Stephen Felker worked tirelessly to restore the mill's operation, remain competitive, and supply jobs for the employees who depend on the mill for income; and

Whereas, even though payroll and other plant records and a complete damage assessment were not readily available, Mr. Felker ensured that all employees were accounted for, directed the employees be paid, and began to refurbish operations at Avondale Mills. Mr. Felker could have easily walked away by closing the damaged plants, but he demonstrated Avondale Mills' commitment to the people of Graniteville and the community by making the decision to stay and take whatever steps necessary to make Avondale Mills whole again; and

Whereas, the people of the Graniteville community, Aiken County, and South Carolina know it will be a better place because of the courageous and compassionate decision to restore operations at Avondale Mills; and

Whereas, entire generations have made their livelihood there and will continue to live, worship, and educate their children there. Graniteville and Avondale are important to each other's future, and under the leadership of Stephen Felker, that future looks bright once again. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the Senate recognize with gratitude Stephen Felker, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Avondale Mills in Aiken County, on his tireless and compassionate efforts to restore the plant's operation in the wake of the catastrophic train collision January 9, 2005, and to reclaim the future of Graniteville.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Stephen Felker.