A house RESOLUTION

 

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR STEPHEN COLBERT, A NATIVE SON OF SOUTH CAROLINA, UPON THE OCCASION OF THE FINAL EPISODE OF THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT, AND TO COMMEND HIM FOR HIS OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO AMERICAN TELEVISION, COMEDY, AND PUBLIC discourse.

 

Whereas, Stephen Colbert was born on May 13, 1964, in Washington, D. C., and raised in South Carolina, more particularly reared in Charleston, where he attended Porter-Gaud School and developed the wit, curiosity, and perspective that would later define his career; and

 

Whereas, a proud South Carolinian, Mr. Colbert is the youngest of eleven children of Dr. James William Colbert Jr. and Lorna Elizabeth Tuck Colbert, and his Charleston upbringing continues to shape the values, humor, and sense of community he brings to audiences across the nation; and

 

Whereas, he originally studied to be a dramatic actor but became interested in improvisational theater while attending Northwestern University, where he met Second City director Del Close; and

 

Whereas, Mr. Colbert first performed professionally at Second City Chicago and later developed the sketch comedy series Exit 57 with his Second City troupe and performed and wrote on The Dana Carvey Show, before collaborating again with his Second City troupe on the sitcom Strangers with Candy, all of which honed his sharp comedic voice that would later earn national recognition; and

 

Whereas, he rose to prominence as a correspondent on Comedy Central's The Daily Show, where his satirical reporting became a defining feature of the program and helped shape modern political satire; and

 

Whereas, Mr. Colbert went on to create and star in The Colbert Report from 2005 to 2014, earning numerous awards and widespread acclaim while demonstrating the power of humor to engage the public in civic conversation; and where he announced his candidacy for president on The Colbert Report, tossing his satirical hat into the ring of an already crowded race and stating his intention to run on both Republican and Democratic platforms. He later abandoned plans to run as a Republican due to the thirty-five-thousand-dollar fee required to file for the South Carolina primary; however, he continued to seek a place on the Democratic ballot and campaigned in Columbia, where he was presented with the key to the city by the mayor who declared Colbert to be "South Carolina's Favorite Son"; and

 

Whereas, in 2015, Mr. Colbert became host of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on CBS, where he has entertained millions of viewers with his intelligence, humor, and thoughtful interviews with leaders from across politics, arts, science, and culture; and

 

Whereas, throughout his career, Mr. Colbert has remained deeply connected to his South Carolina roots and has consistently brought pride and recognition to the Palmetto State through his achievements; and

 

Whereas, as The Late Show with Stephen Colbert concludes its final episode, it is fitting that the South Carolina House recognize the remarkable career of one of its most notable native sons, whose voice has contributed meaningfully to American culture and public dialogue. 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 Stephen Colbert, a native son of South Carolina, upon the occasion of the final episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and commend him for his outstanding contributions to American television, comedy, and public commentary.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Stephen Colbert as a token of the appreciation and pride of the South Carolina House of Representatives.

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