H*4394 Resolution, By Young, Clyburn, Spires, Hixon, J.R. Smith and Taylor
 A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND THE HONORABLE ROBERT A. SMOAK,
 JR., MASTER-IN-EQUITY FOR AIKEN COUNTY, UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT
 FROM THE BENCH, AND TO WISH HIM CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HIS
 FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

   06/29/11  House  Introduced and adopted (House Journal-page 19)

TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND THE HONORABLE ROBERT A. SMOAK, JR., MASTER-IN-EQUITY FOR AIKEN COUNTY, UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE BENCH, AND TO WISH HIM CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are pleased to learn that the Honorable Robert A. Smoak, Jr., began a well-deserved retirement after a quarter of century of faithful and outstanding service to the citizens of Aiken County in June 2011; and

Whereas, born in Wilmington, North Carolina, on September 3, 1943, he is the son of Margery Toole Smoak and the late Robert A. Smoak, Sr.; and

Whereas, because his father was a career officer in the United States Army, Judge Smoak had the opportunity to live with his family in various locations throughout the United States and in West Germany; and

Whereas, in 1961, he graduated from Annandale High School in Virginia and earned a bachelor's degree in history from The Citadel in 1965; and

Whereas, after two years of active duty as a lieutenant in the United States Army that included a tour of duty in Vietnam and after a brief career in railroad operations and management, he earned a juris doctorate from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1973; and

Whereas, on June 1, 1974, he married his beloved wife, Mary Tatum Hope of Honea Path, and together they reared two fine children, Lawrence and Catherine, who have blessed them with two adoring grandchildren; and

Whereas, from 1973 to 1986, he was a member of the firm of Toole and Toole in Aiken until he became a part-time master-in-equity for Aiken County; and

Whereas, he engaged in a limited part-time law practice until the finalization of the 2000 United States Census results in 2001, at which time he became a full-time master-in-equity, and he continued in that capacity until his retirement in June 2011; and

Whereas, he now enjoys pursuing his interests in playing and collecting guitars and other stringed instruments, railroad history and modeling, outdoor cooking, studying ancient history and archaeology, and spending time on the beautiful May River in Bluffton; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are grateful for the legacy of leadership that the Honorable Robert A. Smoak, Jr., has bestowed on Aiken County and appreciate the enduring guidance he has given to citizens of the Palmetto State for twenty-five years. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and commend the Honorable Robert A. Smoak, Jr., master-in-equity for Aiken County, upon the occasion of his retirement from the bench, and wish him continued success and happiness in all his future endeavors.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Honorable Robert A. Smoak, Jr.