Bill 5010

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                       5010
Type of Legislation:               Concurrent Resolution CR
Introducing Body:                  House
Introduced Date:                   19960514
Primary Sponsor:                   Harvin 
All Sponsors:                      Harvin 
Drafted Document Number:           dka\3764jm.96
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:      19960514
Subject:                           Abraham (Abe) Thomy

Body    Date      Action Description                       Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  _______________________________________  _______ ____________

House   19960514  Received from Senate
Senate  19960514  Introduced, adopted, returned
                  with concurrence
House   19960514  Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

COMMENDING ABRAHAM (ABE) THOMY, OUTSTANDING AND WIDELY-RECOGNIZED PHOTOGRAPHER OF PROMINENT SOUTH CAROLINIANS AND OTHERS, FOR HIS MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS OF PORTRAITURE AND SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF THE PALMETTO STATE.

Whereas, Abraham (Abe) Thomy was born in Mullins, the youngest son of immigrant Lebanese parents, Najib A. and Careemy Jacob Thomy, and grew up in Lake City; and

Whereas, during a career spanning more than five decades, Mr. Thomy, a veteran of World War II, has photographed the giant personalities of our time, including: Bernard Baruch, financier, philanthropist, and advisor to Presidents of the United States; former Vice President Alben Barkley; Archibald Rutledge, Poet Laureate of South Carolina; mystery writer Mickey Spillane; James F. Brynes, United States Supreme Court Justice, Secretary of State, United States Senator, and Governor of South Carolina; professor and author Havilah Babcock; Joan Blondell, Broadway actress and wife of movie star Dick Powell; vice presidential nominee Estes Kefauver; United States Senator Strom Thurmond; former Governor and United States Senator Ernest F. Hollings; United States Senator Richard Russell of Georgia; and numerous other famous persons; and

Whereas, Abraham Thomy's portraits have been displayed in the Columbia Museum of Art, the Gibbs Art Gallery in Charleston, and other museums in the South; and

Whereas, recently, in order to create other crown jewels capping a more than half-century career, Mr. Thomy, now a resident of Sumter, went not to famous celebrities but to his family, friends, neighbors, and their children; he treated them just as he did the famous, revealing to his subjects, through a stunning portrait, that their unique and majestic qualities are special and should be preserved for future generations; and

Whereas, the poet Keats said, "A thing of beauty is a joy forever."; truly, then, Abraham Thomy has brought joy to thousands and has provided great art for future generations to savor, study, and enjoy; and

Whereas, this superb artist is one of the most outstanding and creative South Carolinians of our time, and his work and accomplishments are highly deserving of recognition and commendation. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, commends Abraham (Abe) Thomy, outstanding and widely-recognized photographer of prominent South Carolinians and others, for his more than fifty years of portraiture and service to the citizens of the Palmetto State.

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