H*5050 Concurrent Resolution, By Rutherford
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR WILLIE E. GARY, ONE OF THE
 NATION'S MOST RESPECTED AND ACCOMPLISHED LAWYERS, FOR HIS OUTSTANDING
 CONTRIBUTIONS TO HIS COMMUNITY AND TO THE NATION AND TO EXTEND BEST WISHES TO
 HIM IN ALL OF HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

   03/30/04  House  Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate HJ-10
   03/30/04  Senate Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence SJ-6

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR WILLIE E. GARY, ONE OF THE NATION'S MOST RESPECTED AND ACCOMPLISHED LAWYERS, FOR HIS OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO HIS COMMUNITY AND TO THE NATION AND TO EXTEND BEST WISHES TO HIM IN ALL OF HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

Whereas, dedication and commitment to helping the underprivileged in society has always been highly valued in the Palmetto State and the General Assembly of South Carolina is honored to recognize those who give back to their communities; and

Whereas, Willie E. Gary, known in the legal world as the "Giant Killer," has been representing little-known clients against major corporations for years and has won some of the biggest jury awards in Unites States history; and

Whereas, born July 12, 1947, in Eastman, Georgia, Willie was one of eleven children who was raised in the migrant farm communities in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas; and

Whereas, with his desire to obtain an education in the forefront of his mind, he received a football scholarship from Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he led the football team from 1969-1971, and he earned his Bachelor's Degree in business administration; and

Whereas, after graduating from Shaw University, Willie Gary went on to the North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina, where he earned a Juris Doctorate in 1974; and

Whereas, upon moving back to Stuart, Florida, he was admitted to the Florida Bar and opened the first black law firm in Martin County, where he was assisted by his wife, Gloria, in the initial operation of his firm; and

Whereas, since then, Mr. Gary's practice has grown into the thriving national partnership known as Gary, Williams, Parenti, Finney, Lewis, McManus, Watson & Sperando, and the firm now consists of over thirty-four attorneys, a team of paralegals, and a professional staff of over ninety people; and

Whereas, listed as one of the Top Fifty Attorneys in the United States by Forbes Magazine, Willie Gary has also been featured in The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The Chicago Tribune, Ebony, Jet, People, and the Black Law Journal; and

Whereas, in addition to being featured in national publications, Mr. Gary has also been featured on CBS's 60 Minutes, ABC's Person of the Week on World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, the Oprah Winfrey Show, and CBS's Eye on America segment with Dan Rather; and

Whereas, not only is he an exceptional lawyer, he is well known as a businessman, churchman, humanitarian, and philanthropist who is deeply involved in charity and civic work, committed to enriching the lives of young children through education and drug prevention; and

Whereas, with the creation of the Gary Foundation, Willie Gary is able to provide scholarships, direction, and resources for youth so they can realize their dreams of achieving higher education, and he speaks at numerous schools across the country and hosts a television campaign, "Education is Power," encouraging children to stay in school; and

Whereas, the many awards he has won include the "Alumni of the Year" from the United Negro College Fund and the Judge Learned Hand Award from the American Jewish Committee, the Golden Trumpet Award from Turner Broadcasting Company, and the Horatio Alger Award; and

Whereas, through his service as a board member of numerous universities and foundations throughout the country, Mr. Gary has become a national figure for charity, hard work, and the American dream, and his efforts and achievements are unparalleled in the field of law; and

Whereas, Willie E. Gary is an inspiration to all and the Palmetto State recognizes his honorable achievements and acknowledges that his extensive good works touch lives throughout the country. 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, honor and recognize Willie E. Gary, one of this nation's most respected and accomplished lawyers, for his outstanding contributions to his community and the nation and extend best wishes to him in all of his future endeavors.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Mr. Gary.