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S. 906
STATUS INFORMATION
Senate Resolution
Sponsors: Senators McConnell, Alexander, Anderson, Bryant, Campsen, Cleary, Courson, Cromer, Drummond, Elliott, Fair, Ford, Gregory, Grooms, Hawkins, Hayes, Hutto, Jackson, Knotts, Land, Leatherman, Leventis, Lourie, Malloy, Martin, Matthews, McGill, Mescher, Moore, O'Dell, Patterson, Peeler, Pinckney, Rankin, Reese, Richardson, Ritchie, Ryberg, Scott, Setzler, Sheheen, Short, J. Verne Smith, Thomas, Verdin and Williams
Document Path: l:\s-res\gfm\005spea.mrh.doc
Introduced in the Senate on June 1, 2005
Adopted by the Senate on June 1, 2005
Summary: The Honorable David Horton Wilkins
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
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6/1/2005 Senate Introduced and adopted SJ-3
View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
TO COMMEND THE HONORABLE DAVID HORTON WILKINS OF GREENVILLE FOR HIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AS SPEAKER OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SINCE 1994 AND TO CONGRATULATE HIM UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS APPOINTMENT AS THE AMBASSADOR OF THE UNITED STATES TO CANADA.
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate have learned with deep and sincere regret that one of the longest serving House Speakers in the country, the Honorable David Horton Wilkins, will retire this year from the House of Representatives to embark on a new venture as the Ambassador of the United States to Canada; and
Whereas, Speaker Wilkins has served his district, Greenville County, and the State of South Carolina with ability and distinction since his first election in 1980; and
Whereas, he and his wife Susan are blessed with two wonderful children: James and Robert; and
Whereas, Speaker Wilkins holds an undergraduate degree from Clemson University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of South Carolina School of Law. He has also received honorary degrees from Clemson University, the University of South Carolina, The Citadel, Francis Marion University, and the Medical University of South Carolina; and
Whereas, after serving in the United States Army, Speaker Wilkins returned to Greenville, established a well respected law firm, and played a vital part in the community for more than thirty years; and
Whereas, his public service career began by being elected to represent District Twenty-Four in the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1980. His talents were quickly recognized by his colleagues who chose him to serve six years as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and two years as Speaker Pro Tempore before being elected as the first Republican Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives in a century on December 6, 1994; and
Whereas, during his twenty-five years in the Legislature, Speaker Wilkins' imprint has been on most major reform initiatives enacted by the General Assembly. He was instrumental in crafting the legislation on South Carolina's historic welfare reform and property tax relief packages, the cutting-edge education accountability reform, establishment of LIFE scholarships, as well as reforms to our judicial system, government structure, and truth-in-sentencing laws. He also played a key role in solving many contentious issues facing our State; and
Whereas, throughout his distinguished career, Speaker Wilkins has received numerous awards including the 2004 Excellence in State Legislative Leadership Award from the National Conference of State Legislatures, 2004 Distinguished Service Award from the South Carolina Municipal Association, 2001 Distinguished Service Award from the South Carolina Association of Counties, and the 2000 Palmetto Leadership Award from the South Carolina Policy Council; and
Whereas, Speaker Wilkins is known for his friendship and strong support of President George W. Bush, having served as Co-Chair of the South Carolina Bush for President campaign in 2000 and as State Chairman of the Bush-Cheney 2004 campaign. And in 2002, President Bush tapped Speaker Wilkins for a seat on the Board of Visitors of the United States Military Academy at West Point; and
Whereas, we in the Senate will miss the steadfast leadership that Speaker Wilkins has brought to the Legislature as well as his willingness to listen and ability to act in a fair and responsive manner; and
Whereas, Speaker Wilkins' significant diplomatic and persuasive skills will continue to be utilized as he embarks on his new career as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to Canada, and although his presence in the General Assembly will be greatly missed, we are proud that one of the Palmetto State's most prominent citizens has been selected to become our nation's personal representative in Canada. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate:
That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, commend the Honorable David Horton Wilkins of Greenville for his distinguished service as Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives upon the occasion of his retirement from the House and wish him Godspeed as he becomes the Ambassador of the United States to Canada.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to David H. Wilkins, Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives.
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