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H. 4217
STATUS INFORMATION
Concurrent Resolution
Sponsors: Rep. Funderburk
Document Path: l:\council\bills\rm\1269ssp07.doc
Introduced in the House on June 5, 2007
Introduced in the Senate on June 6, 2007
Adopted by the General Assembly on June 6, 2007
Summary: Jak Smyrl
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
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6/5/2007 House Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate HJ-22
6/6/2007 Senate Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence SJ-28
View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR JAK SMYRL, OF KERSHAW COUNTY, FOR HIS DISTINGUISHED CAREER AS AN ARTIST AND WRITER AND TO THANK HIM FOR LIGHTENING THE HEARTS OF UNCOUNTED SOUTH CAROLINIANS WITH HIS CARTOON HUMOR.
Whereas, Oscar Jackson Smyrl, Jr., born in 1923 in Camden, grew up in an active, loving family, where laughter and storytelling helped shape him into the artist Jak Smyrl; and
Whereas, in his childhood during the Great Depression, when rural youngsters learned to make their own fun, young Smyrl sketched funny pictures to amuse his siblings as they sat together evenings by the light of an oil lamp centered on the kitchen table. In his lifetime, he has turned to all arts, including conversation, music, and writing, that bring people closer together and enlarge their world with pleasure; and
Whereas, the Southern outdoor world of his youth nurtured an enduring love for natural beauty and a sympathy for nature's creatures, later seen in Jak's cartoon strips that for several years illustrated South Carolina Wildlife magazine's early Carolina Sports columns. Called by duty from his college classroom in World War II, he served in the United States Marines during the Pacific island invasions and afterwards in the occupation army in North China, his pencil, brush, and camera going with him everywhere. During post-war college and studio studies, Jak landed a job with The State and The Columbia Record newspapers in Columbia and entered the working world of the commercial artist; and
Whereas, staff artist at The State and The Columbia Record for thirty-seven years, as well as a free-lance illustrator for dozens of books and hundreds of other projects, Jak Smyrl has made an indelible mark on South Carolina and beyond. He was a sustaining contributor to the long-time survival of The State Magazine, one of the defining publications of the Palmetto State; the state and local maps he illustrated with comic sketches record valuable details of historic and contemporary locales; his was the first logo of the University of South Carolina to depict the gamecock in fighting stance; and his sketches of Smokey the Bear garnered national attention in a forest fire prevention campaign; and
Whereas, with his devoted wife, interior designer Betty Spires, whom he married in 1958, Jak Smyrl has traveled the world and lived both simply and grandly, collecting friends everywhere, his trips frequently becoming the basis for detailed travel articles and sketches published on return. Jak and Betty's Camden and Holden Beach, North Carolina, homes are filled with memorabilia, objects of nature, his artworks, and often with family and friends; and
Whereas, through his lifework, Jak, who referred to himself as "the pore man's Picasso," has given legions of South Carolinians insight into important issues, all delivered up with a smile and designed to engender chuckles in those enjoying his creations, and the General Assembly takes great pleasure in recognizing this eminent artist and son of South Carolina for his contributions to this great State. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, recognize and honor Jak Smyrl, of Kershaw County, for his distinguished career as an artist and writer and thank him for lightening the hearts of uncounted South Carolinians with his cartoon humor.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Jak Smyrl.
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