Bill 4304

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                       4304
Type of Legislation:               Concurrent Resolution CR
Introducing Body:                  House
Introduced Date:                   19970604
Primary Sponsor:                   Whipper 
All Sponsors:                      Whipper 
Drafted Document Number:           pt\1376dw.97
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:      19970617
Subject:                           Dr. Willis C. Ham,
                                   Resolutions

Body    Date      Action Description                       Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  _______________________________________  _______ ____________
House   19970617  Received from Senate
Senate  19970605  Introduced, adopted, returned
                  with concurrence
House   19970604  Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate

HONORING AND RECOGNIZING THE THIRTY-SEVEN YEAR LEGACY OF DR. WILLIS C. HAM, COMMISSIONER OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HUMAN AFFAIRS COMMISSION AND A SPORTS FIGURE, WHO HAS MADE THE TRANSITION TO A STATE LEADER BASED ON HIS ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE, MOTIVATE, AND LEAD.

Whereas, Dr. Willis C. Ham was born and educated in North Charleston, South Carolina; and

Whereas, as a man with determination and perseverance as his motto, he achieved a distinguished sports biography which includes: 1959-63, seven times Little League and Pony League All-star; 1965, member of South Carolina (Lower State) High School Football All-star Team from Bonds-Wilson High School; 1965-66, Rookie of the Year in football and baseball at South Carolina State University; 1968, Captain of South Carolina State University's football and baseball teams; 1969, Athlete of the Year at South Carolina State University and selected to four post season all-conference football teams--All Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, All National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics District #29, Atlanta Daily World 100 Percent Wrong Club All-Star, and All South Carolina - 2nd Team Defensive Back (First African-American in the State of South Carolina to appear on the All South Carolina Team); 1969, selected All Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in baseball, refused football contract offer from the Cincinnati Bengals, and signed Minor League Baseball contract with the Cincinnati Redlegs; 1975-77, Defensive Backfield Coach/Defensive Coordinator at Fayetteville State University; 1979-80, Assistant Baseball Coach Voorhees College; 1980-90, first full-time Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at South Carolina State University, guiding the program through its most productive decade in the institution's history -- twenty-nine Mid-Eastern Conference Championships, five National Championships, four NCAA playoff appearances, three runners-up in National Competition, twenty Coach of the Year honors, twenty-one All-Americans in football, twenty-four All-Americans in women's track and field, and twenty-one professional contract signees - football (15), basketball (3), baseball (2), and golf (1); and

Whereas, it is indeed rare in this day of one dimensional careers to witness the outstanding rapid passage of an athlete from the football field and baseball diamond to lead a major state agency; and

Whereas, Dr. Willis C. Ham currently enjoys the admiration and respect of all with whom he comes in contact. 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 the thirty-seven year legacy of Dr. Willis C. Ham, Commissioner of the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission, and a sports figure who has made the transition to a state leader based on his ability to communicate, motivate, and lead.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Dr. Willis C. Ham.