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H. 4550

STATUS INFORMATION

House Resolution
Sponsors: Rep. J. Brown
Document Path: l:\council\bills\bbm\9169htc06.doc

Introduced in the House on January 31, 2006
Adopted by the House on January 31, 2006

Summary: Deacon Roland L. Thomas

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
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   1/31/2006  House   Introduced and adopted HJ-9

View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

1/31/2006

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR DEACON ROLAND L. THOMAS FOR HIS OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO HIS CHURCH, CAREER, AND COMMUNITY, AND TO WISH HIM ALL THE BEST UPON HIS RETIREMENT.

Whereas, destined to make an impact on the lives of those with whom he came into contact and to effect social change in South Carolina, Deacon Roland L. Thomas was born in Columbia on July 1, 1924; and

Whereas, graduating from Booker T. Washington High School, Deacon Thomas went on to receive his undergraduate degree from Benedict College and earned a graduate degree in Laboratory Technology from the University of Chicago; and

Whereas, a devoted family man, Mr. Thomas celebrates a loving marriage to Vickie Martin Thomas and dotes upon his two sons, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild; and

Whereas, compelled by a sense of civic duty and responsibility to serve his beloved country, Mr. Thomas joined the Army Reserve and became the first African-American man to become a company commander at Fort Jackson. He retired honorably after thirty years of dedicated service to the United States Army, attaining the rank of Major; and

Whereas, using his graduate degree to help others, Mr. Thomas completed twenty-eight years of service as a Laboratory Technician at the Veterans Administration Hospital; and

Whereas, a devoted Roman Catholic, Mr. Thomas was ordained a deacon, serving faithfully in that capacity at Saint Martin De Porres Catholic Church for thirty years; and

Whereas, in 1976, Deacon Thomas became the Catholic Chaplain for prison ministries at the Department of Corrections, where he counseled and ministered to men who were in desperate need of prayer and the blessings of the Church; and

Whereas, Mr. Thomas' work as a Deacon is worthy of praise and has not gone unnoticed, as he has had the honor and privilege of working closely with three different Bishops of the Diocese of Charleston. He also received the Saint Francis Medal of Honor for outstanding service to the church and its people; and

Whereas, spurring social change in South Carolina, Deacon Thomas was one of the first African-American men to join the Knights of Columbus in the state, leading the way for other qualified African-American Catholic men to join the Knights of Columbus; and

Whereas, his good works and love for his church, community, and neighbors serve as a shining example for all South Carolinians. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the House of Representatives of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, recognize and honor Deacon Roland L. Thomas for his outstanding contributions to his church, career, and community, and wish him all the best upon his retirement.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Deacon Roland L. Thomas.

This web page was last updated on Friday, December 4, 2009 at 3:50 P.M.