South Carolina General Assembly
116th Session, 2005-2006

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Bill 4668


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A HOUSE RESOLUTION

TO HONOR JERRY S. CHITTY OF LEXINGTON COUNTY UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS INDUCTION INTO THE BROOKLAND-CAYCE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION'S "HALL OF FAME" ON FEBRUARY 23, 2006, AND RECOGNIZE HIS VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LEXINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT II AND THE FIELD OF EDUCATION.

Whereas, it is appropriate for the South Carolina House of Representatives to recognize South Carolinians who contribute to their community and make educating our children their life's work, and Jerry Chitty of Lexington County is certainly a South Carolinian who fits this description; and

Whereas, on the path to being an educator from birth, Jerry Chitty was born in Olar, South Carolina, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles M. Chitty. The Chittys' were a hardworking family who instilled in their son a strong work ethic and love for learning. Mr. Chitty's father was a farmer and worked at the Federal Land Bank, and his mother taught school for forty-two years and taught her son in grades one through three; and

Whereas, Mr. Chitty graduated from Denmark-Olar High School, where he was president of the student body and was All-State in baseball, football, and basketball. His greatest trait as a true team player began in these high school days; and

Whereas, he went on to attend Presbyterian College on an athletic scholarship and worked at Thornwell Children's Home throughout his college career which convinced him that education should be his life's work; and

Whereas, he graduated from Presbyterian College in 1962 and taught for one year before going into the Army for two and half years to serve his country in Germany as a First Lieutenant Airborne Ranger Infantry officer; and

Whereas, his long and impressive career in education essentially began in 1965 when he taught and coached at Williston-Elko High School. He moved to Airport High School the next year and then he went on to teach United States history and coach basketball at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School; and

Whereas, his love of learning led him to pursue and receive his M. Ed. from Clemson University in 1970 and his Ed. S. from the University of South Carolina in 1974; and

Whereas, Mr. Chitty came home to Lexington School District II when Jerry Teal and Heyward Moore invited him to be assistant principal at Brookland-Cayce High School in 1973. He served there until 1976 when he became principal of Saluda River Elementary School where he remained for five years before becoming Assistant Superintendent for Instruction at Lexington School District II, a position he would hold until his retirement in 1994; and

Whereas, with Mr. Chitty's motto being "it's all about the children", he ran for and was elected to the Lexington School District II Board of Trustees in 1994, where he continues to serve the students, parents, teachers, and administrators to the best of his considerable ability. He has served as Chairman of the Board three times and during his tenure on the board, both the new Northside and Busbee Middle Schools were built; and

Whereas, he also worked with the Athletic Department at Newberry College until 2005 and has been the recipient of numerous honors throughout his career including being named Basketball Coach of the Year three times, Teacher of the Year three times, and 1970 Outstanding Educator in Bamberg County. He led his basketball team to win the State Championship Title in 1970, and the students voted to honor him with the "Faculty Service Award" at Brookland-Cayce in 1976 which was presented by then Student Body President, Scott Newman, who is currently the principal at Brookland-Cayce; and

Whereas, this talented educator's caring nature and personal warmth which have endeared him to his students, faculty, and staff has also made him a beloved husband and father. He is married to his best friend Betsy and together they have a son, Scott, and a daughter, Liz Castles, and a son-in-law, Dr. Trey Castles. He and his wife also boast three grandchildren whom they adore: Tradd, Sanders, and Sullivan Castles; and

Whereas, the Chittys' are also members of Mt. Hebron Methodist Church where he has served on various boards and committees and he is also active in other worthy organizations; and

Whereas, it is with great pleasure that the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives pause to honor Mr. Jerry Chitty and acknowledge his many and varied contributions in the field of education in our State. This man who is known for his positive attitude and his desire to find a solution to any problem, his motivational skills as a coach, teacher, and school board member, and his dedication to the goal that every child should receive every opportunity to learn and the materials to do so make Mr. Chitty a role model 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, honor Jerry S. Chitty of Lexington County upon the occasion of his induction into the Brookland-Cayce Educational Foundation's "Hall of Fame" on February 23, 2006, and recognize his valuable contributions to Lexington School District II and the field of education.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Mr. Chitty.

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