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TO REQUEST THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 126 INTERCHANGE LOCATED AT ELMWOOD AVENUE AND HUGER STREET IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA "THOMAS MOFFATT BURRISS INTERCHANGE" AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS AT THIS INTERCHANGE CONTAINING THIS DESIGNATION.
Whereas, as a member of the House of Representatives from 1977 to 1992, the Honorable Thomas Moffatt Burriss worked tirelessly for the betterment of the State of South Carolina; and
Whereas, prior to his service to the Palmetto State, Mr. Burriss was a member of the Greatest Generation, valiantly serving his country with distinction during World War II; and
Whereas, he was born in Anderson on September 22, 1919, and departed this life on January 4, 2019, at the age of 99, the "true high point" of his life came when he graduated from Clemson University in 1940 and went on to become a science teacher at Orangeburg High School. It was there he met Louisa Hay of Morristown, Tennessee, whom he would marry in 1942 and raise a family of three sons and a daughter. After her death, he would later marry the late Jean Wheelwright; and
Whereas, with the nefarious attack on Pearl Harbor and the entry of the United States into World War II, Burriss enlisted in the Third Battalion of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division and served what he called "for two and a half of the roughest years of my life"; and
Whereas, Burriss fought in the invasion of Sicily, the liberation of Holland, and the infamous "Battle of the Bulge", which he calls "the most deadly destructive and damnable military encounter" he ever took part in. However, the 504th became such an unstoppable force they were dubbed "Devils in Baggy Pants" by the Germans they encountered; and
Whereas, his heroics during WWII earned him the Silver Star, three Bronze Stars, the Purple Heart, three presidential unit citations, the French Fourragere, which distinguishes military units as a whole, the Belgium Fourragere, and the Dutch Lanyard; and
Whereas, returning from the war Burriss served as president of Burriss Construction Company from 1950 to 1990; and
Whereas, a distinguished colleague in the House of Representatives deemed approachable, and genuinely interested in providing good government, Burriss also was popular with his constituents. He resigned his House seat in 1991; and
Whereas, he spent later years participating in reunions and corresponding with former Army buddies. A popular speaker, his first-person war stories tell of harrowing battles, heroism, casualties, and the thrill of liberation as WWII drew to a close. These stories and more are recounted in his memoirs "Strike and Hold"; and
Whereas, it is fitting and proper that members of the General Assembly honor Thomas Moffatt Burriss for his tireless, dedicated and outstanding service to South Carolina and the nation by naming a highway interchange in his honor. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That members of the General Assembly request the Department of Transportation name the Interstate Highway 126 Interchange located at Elmwood Avenue and Huger Street in the City of Columbia "Thomas Moffatt Burriss Interchange" and erect appropriate markers or signs at this interchange containing this designation.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Department of Transportation.
This web page was last updated on January 15, 2019 at 12:40 PM