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TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE UPON THE PASSING OF DR. MILTON KIMPSON OF COLUMBIA AND TO EXTEND THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS.
Whereas, the South Carolina Senate was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Milton Kimpson of Columbia on January 30, 2021, at the venerable age of ninety; and
Whereas, from the cotton fields of Calhoun County to the cabinet of the Governor of the State of South Carolina, Milton Kimpson traveled a path of great achievement and service to his State, family, community, and fellow man. Born on October 1, 1930, in St. Matthews, he came into this world the second of the four children of Melton Kimpson and Ruth Wright Kimpson; and
Whereas, as sharecroppers, Dr. Kimpson's parents struggled to send all their children to college. All the Kimpson siblings made it with prayer, perseverance, hard work, and sometimes the exercise of their musical talents as the Kimpson Quartet, singing in churches throughout Calhoun and Orangeburg counties; and
Whereas, after graduating from Columbia's Benedict College with a bachelor's degree in mathematics and a stint in the United States Army during the Korean War, Dr. Kimpson began his teaching career at Booker T. Washington High School in Columbia as a mathematics teacher. In time, he distinguished himself as a principal at two of the city's elementary schools before being selected as a state supervisor of elementary education at the South Carolina State Department of Education. He later was appointed the first executive director for the Community Relations Council of the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce; and
Whereas, in his position as Education, Health and Human Services executive assistant to former Governor Richard W. Riley, he advised the governor on some of the most complicated and challenging issues facing our State, including the South Carolina Education Improvement Act. Governor Riley thereafter appointed Dr. Kimpson to the South Carolina Workers' Compensation Commission, which he later served as chairman. After serving as an associate commissioner to the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, Dr. Kimpson retired from state government in 1994 as the deputy commissioner for program services at the South Carolina Department of Corrections; and
Whereas, in addition to his undergraduate degree, Dr. Kimpson earned a master's degree from the University of Wisconsin and furthered his education at the University of Georgia, Syracuse University, and the University of Miami. He also received honorary doctoral degrees from Benedict College and Wofford College; and
Whereas, among his many honors and awards, Milton Kimpson received the Order of the Palmetto from the governor of South Carolina, Colonel of the Staff Award from the governor of Mississippi, and Arkansas Traveler Award from the governor of Arkansas. Further, he received the NAACP (Manning Branch) Man of the Year Award, South Carolina State College Distinguished Service Award, South Carolina Association of Minorities for Public Administration Public Servant of the Year Award, and South Carolina Education Association Friend of Education Award. He also was recognized in the 2008 African American History Calendar. In 2013, Benedict College dedicated the Milton Kimpson Center for Graduate Studies and Continuing Education, named in his honor, and in 2017, by concurrent resolution of the South Carolina General Assembly, an interchange at the junction of Highways 126 and 26 was named in Dr. Kimpson's honor; and
Whereas, this man of faith was an active member of Saint John Baptist Church, where he was Chairman Emeritus of the Saint John Baptist Board of Deacons. In addition, he was a member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and Phi Delta Kappa Fraternity; and
Whereas, Dr. Kimpson leaves to cherish his memory his beloved wife of over sixty years, Wilhelmina Page Kimpson, a retired educator with Richland County School District One; three sons, the Honorable Milton G. (Audra) Kimpson, an Administrative Law Court Judge; Marc A. Kimpson, a manager with the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority; and State Senator Marlon E. Kimpson; a brother, Joseph E. Kimpson; a sister, Rudean K. Bush; five grandchildren; and a host of other family members and friends; and
Whereas, the people of South Carolina were made better by Milton Kimpson's influence and will greatly miss his impactful presence. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate:
That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, express their profound sorrow upon the passing of Dr. Milton Kimpson of Columbia and extend the deepest sympathy to his family and many friends.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Mrs. Wilhelmina Page Kimpson for the family.
This web page was last updated on February 3, 2021 at 5:09 PM