A house RESOLUTION

 

to recognize and honor Thomas R. Higgs II, Laurens County Administrator, for his outstanding service and to wish him continued success and happiness as he leaves his post to become Colleton County administrator.

 

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives has learned that Thomas R. Higgs II will resign his service as Laurens County Administrator in mid-May of 2025 to become the county administrator of Colleton County; and

 

Whereas, Mr. Higgs earned a bachelor's degree in media arts from the University of South Carolina in 2005 and a master's degree in public policy in 2015 from Liberty University in Virginia; and

 

Whereas, he served as a loan officer with Equisource Home Mortgage in Columbia from 2004 to 2006, and then as a financial representative with Northwestern Mutual; with the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce for member relations; as a legal and financial research analyst with Leaf Financial; as manager of Korn Law Firm, PA; as chief political strategist for Capitol Consulting Group; and manager for Scott and Corley, PA; and

 

Whereas, Mr. Higgs began his career in Laurens County in 2019 when he was hired as assistant city manager in Clinton, before being promoted to interim city manager and then moving to city manager in 2021. He joined the Laurens County team in 2021 as county administrator, where he has felt that his coworkers were more like family and friends; and

 

Whereas, during his tenure as county administrator, he has implemented a comprehensive wage study to modernize compensation standards and practices, managed and administered an approximately thirty-five-million-dollar annual operating budget, and approximately forty-five million dollars in capital improvement projects while growing the county's fund balance and increasing the county's bond credit rating with Moody's and S&P without an ad valorem tax increase; and

 

Whereas, Mr. Higgs has overhauled all county operations under council directive and developed two new departments, which included Planning and Emergency Management, while building a strong and cohesive team of approximately five hundred employees; and

 

Whereas, devoted to his profession, he is a member of the South Carolina City and County Management Association and the South Carolina Economic Development Association. He is a graduate of the South Carolina Economic Development Institute and of the South Carolina Association of Counties Institute of Government Graduate Level 1 and 2 and an attendee of the South Carolina Executive Leadership Institute; and

 

Whereas, committed to his community, Mr. Higgs serves as a board member and youth mentor of the Dreams Imagination and Gift Development Program, is FEMA Community Emergency Response Team certified, a military emergency management specialist, a YMCA volunteer coach and referee, a Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity member, and a certified barbecue judge. The latter is high praise, indeed; and

 

Whereas, in the patriotic tradition of the sons of South Carolina, he is commanding officer of PSC Search and Rescue Command with the South Carolina State Guard. He is also a law enforcement officer as a South Carolina constable; and

 

Whereas, Mr. Higgs' service to the community has been recognized as a recipient of the Laurens County Disabilities and Special Needs Advocate of the Year, and he is an inductee in the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels. The South Carolina House of Representatives adds its applause to thank Thomas Higgs for his dedicated service to Laurens County. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor Thomas R. Higgs II, Laurens County administrator, for his outstanding service and wish him continued success and happiness as he leaves his post to become Colleton County administrator.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Thomas R. Higgs.

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