South Carolina General Assembly
114th Session, 2001-2002

Download This Version in Microsoft Word format

Bill 654


Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)


COMMITTEE REPORT

May 29, 2001

    S. 654

Introduced by Senators Patterson, Giese and Ford

S. Printed 5/29/01--H.

Read the first time May 23, 2001.

            

THE COMMITTEE ON

INVITATIONS AND MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS

    To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (S. 654) to request the South Carolina Department of Corrections to name the Department of Corrections headquarters building the "William D. Leeke Building" and to erect appropriate markers or signs to that, etc., respectfully

REPORT:

    That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass:

RONALD N. FLEMING for Committee.

            

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO REQUEST THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS TO NAME THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS HEADQUARTERS BUILDING THE "WILLIAM D. LEEKE BUILDING" AND TO ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS TO THAT EFFECT.

Whereas, in 1987 William D. "Bill" Leeke, a nationally respected expert on prison system management, was the longest tenured corrections commissioner in the United States. He served as the Commissioner of the South Carolina Department of Corrections from 1968 until September of 1987; and

Whereas, he graduated from Furman University with a bachelor's degree in psychology and continued his education at the University of South Carolina receiving a master's degree in criminal justice; and

Whereas, starting out as a correctional officer in Greenville County in 1956, Bill Leeke's illustrious career in the correctional system also included serving as a teacher, warden, and deputy director; and

Whereas, during his tenure as Commissioner of the Department of Corrections, extensive improvements and progress were made in the system. He instituted the specialized services division that provides professional treatment for inmates in the form of psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers; established the Gilliam Psychiatric Center, where inmates received necessary intensive psychological care; started and developed work release and pre-release programs and centers in major population areas of the State; instituted emergency preparedness teams called the riot squads; and increased and improved training standards for correctional officers; and

Whereas, Bill Leeke served as: President of the National Association of State Correctional Administrators and the Southern States Correctional Association; President of the American Correctional Association, the first to be elected to a two-year term; in 1980, was appointed by the President of the United States to serve on the Advisory Panel of the National Institute of Justice; and served for several years as a member of the American Bar Association's Commission on Correctional Facilities and Services. In addition, he found the time to serve in an advisory capacity to a number of national and state projects, programs, and committees. He testified before numerous United States and South Carolina House and Senate committees concerning corrections-related issues; and

Whereas, Bill Leeke has been duly honored with numerous awards, including the E. R. Cass Award, the highest honor bestowed by the American Correctional Association, and the Southern States Correctional Association selected him as recipient of its first David H. Williams Excellence of Service Award, which is this association's highest level of recognition for corrections professionals; and

Whereas, William D. Leeke is best known as a warm-hearted, deep-souled man, whose persistence and commitment to making things happen -- no matter how many obstacles were placed in his path -- has earned him the respect of all who had the privilege to work with him. Now, therefore,

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

That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, request the South Carolina Department of Corrections to name the Department of Corrections Headquarters Building the "William D. Leeke Building" and to erect appropriate markers or signs to that effect.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to William D. Leeke and the Director of the South Carolina Department of Corrections.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 2:27 P.M.