South Carolina General Assembly
115th Session, 2003-2004

Download This Version in Microsoft Word format

Bill 5158


Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


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

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE RON SMITH OF SUMTER COUNTY FOR HIS TWENTY-ONE YEARS OF SERVICE AS DIRECTOR OF THE SUMTER COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND PRAISE HIM FOR HIS CONTINUED DEDICATION.

Whereas, Ron Smith of Sumter County has worked with the South Carolina Department of Social Services for nearly thirty years and continues to serve as the Director of the Sumter County Department of Social Services, a position he has held for twenty-one years; and

Whereas, it is with great pleasure that the members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina recognize those South Carolinians who have dedicated their lives to helping citizens of the Palmetto State; and

Whereas, a Sumter County native, Mr. Smith is a product of the Sumter County public school system, graduating from Edmunds High School in 1969; and

Whereas, Mr. Smith went on to North Greenville College before transferring to the University of South Carolina where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in English in 1973; and

Whereas, after graduating, Mr. Smith returned to his beloved Sumter and began working as a case worker for the Department of Social Services where he worked for two years before returning to the University of South Carolina to obtain his Master's Degree in Social Work in 1977; and

Whereas, maintaining his employment with the Department of Social Services during graduate school, Mr. Smith was able to begin as a training coordinator at the district office as soon as he completed his Master's Degree; and

Whereas, in 1979, Mr. Smith left the district office to become the Director of Marlboro County Department of Social Services and stayed there for four years until he became the Director of the Sumter County Department of Social Services in 1983; and

Whereas, Mr. Smith also finds time to serve as the interim director of the Lee County Department of Social Services guiding both offices through many changes throughout the years; and

Whereas, instrumental in implementing a new program called Family Independence, Mr. Smith and his office helped hundreds of families in need of financial assistance find employment throughout the State, and as a result, the caseload for Sumter County has dropped dramatically since 1996; and

Whereas, Mr. Smith's commitment and energy have provided an uplifting spirit to those families in need of the services of the Department of Social Services; and

Whereas, Mr. Smith is not just a dedicated public servant but is also involved in numerous community organizations; and

Whereas, Mr. Smith is an active member of the Sumter Rotary Club, serves on the Salvation Army Board, the Sumter County First Steps for School Readiness Board, the Workforce Investment Board, and the Sumter Chamber of Commerce Community Relations Council, and he also enjoys singing with the Sumter Civic Chorale ; and

Whereas, in addition to his local involvements, Mr. Smith also participates in a number of statewide organizations including serving on the Board of the South Carolina Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, serving as a member of the National Association of Social Workers, and serving as President of both the South Carolina County Directors and Supervisors Association and the South Carolina Human Service Administrators Association; and

Whereas, his service and success with the Department of Social Services and his varied community and state involvement has made Mr. Smith a well-known figure across the State, and his dedication and passion for his life's work serves as an inspiration to us all. 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 Ron Smith of Sumter County for his twenty-one years of service as Director of the Sumter County Department of Social Services and praise him for his continued dedication.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Mr. Ron Smith of Sumter County.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 10:03 A.M.