S*0666 Resolution, By Courson, Alexander, Anderson, Bauer, Branton, Drummond, 
Elliott, Fair, Ford, Giese, Glover, Gregory, Grooms, Hawkins, Hayes, Holland, 
Hutto, Jackson, Land, Leatherman, Leventis, Martin, Matthews, McConnell, McGill, 
Mescher, Moore, O'Dell, Passailaigue, Patterson, Peeler, Pinckney, Rankin, 
Ravenel, Reese, Richardson, Ritchie, Ryberg, Saleeby, Setzler, Short, 
J.V. Smith, Thomas, Verdin, Waldrep and Wilson
 A SENATE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE APPRECIATION OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH
 CAROLINA SENATE FOR THE LIFE AND DISTINGUISHED CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE OF
 SENATOR STROM THURMOND.

   05/08/01  Senate Introduced and adopted SJ-2

EXPRESSING THE APPRECIATION OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE FOR THE LIFE AND DISTINGUISHED CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE OF SENATOR STROM THURMOND.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate note that in the ninety-eighth year of his age Senator Strom Thurmond, the President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate, is the nation's longest serving United States Senator and is the oldest ever to have served in that office; and

Whereas, in a career in public service that began as Edgefield County Superintendent of Education in 1929, then continuing as a member of the South Carolina Senate from 1933 until 1938, a circuit judge, Governor, and with his write-in election in November, 1954, as a United States Senator where he has since served with only a short break in 1956 when he resigned so that the state's voters could express their preference in a primary, fulfilling a promise he made in the 1954 campaign, Senator Thurmond is an exemplar of the consummate public servant -- honest, direct, fearless, and dedicated to the betterment of the people of this State; and

Whereas, when the United States entered World War II, Judge Thurmond, already a man thirty-eight years old, volunteered for service, seeing action in both the European and Pacific Theaters, and participated in the June 5-6, 1944, Normandy Invasion with the 82nd Airborne Division; developing a devotion to the armed forces of the United States that saw him commissioned a major general in the United States Army Reserve and in his Senate career as a member and chairman of the Armed Services Committee, made him a strong voice for national defense, and

Whereas, his zeal to help constituents is legendary and unequaled, and most South Carolinians can relate a situation in which a well-placed phone call or letter from the senator has broken the bureaucratic red tape ensnaring someone worthy of assistance; and

Whereas, his faithful service has brought him uncounted honors and awards, including a statue on the State House grounds and a portrait in the Senate Chamber; and

Whereas, it is appropriate for the members of the South Carolina Senate to pause in their deliberations so that they may thank Senator Thurmond for his extraordinary and exemplary service to the people of South Carolina. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, express their appreciation for the life and distinguished career in public service of Senator Strom Thurmond.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Senator Strom Thurmond.