A house RESOLUTION

 

to recognize and honor James B. Smith, A community leader in Oconee County, and to express deep appreciation to him for his dedicated support in reopening the Chauga River bridge after its destruction during Hurricane Helene, part of which spans over his property.

 

Whereas, when Hurricane Helene ravaged the Southeast in 2024, residents were left without a means to travel U.S. Highway 76 in Oconee County, a major thoroughfare, because of the destruction of the bridge that crosses the Chauga River. Part of the bridge crosses over property belonging to James Smith; and

 

Whereas, the bridge connected the City of Westminster to the mountains and served as a vital route in the Upstate, connecting South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. For nearly nine months, its detour was twenty-four miles one way for the three thousand travelers who used that route every day. For trucks hauling supplies into the mountains, it was a detour of seventy-five miles; and

 

Whereas, Mr. Smith's wood yard is on one side of the washed out bridge, and his home is just a few miles on the other side. He has lived his entire life between Westminster and Long Creek, and he believes that the bridge outage may have been the biggest disruption the small town has ever seen; and

 

Whereas, born on February 28, 1940, Mr. Smith, a native and well-known community member, allowed the Department of Transportation (SCDOT) and the company reconstructing the bridge to do so from his property below, making the repair time so much shorter; and

 

Whereas, every morning, he would see to it that the crew working on the bridge had breakfast and anything else he could provide for them, rain or shine; and

 

Whereas, with unwavering commitment to his community for decades, Mr. Smith has held key leadership roles as a faithful member of Holly Springs Baptist Church, leadership that shaped local policies and improved the quality of many lives; and

 

Whereas, Mr. Smith is a symbol of local history and resilience in the community. Like the bridge which connects neighborhoods and the people in them, he connects people through his inclusive spirit and tireless work across all community groups. Everyone in a community may not know everyone else, but if people know James Smith, that is their bridge to connection and resolution; and

 

Whereas, because of his willingness and eagerness to make sure the bridge was completed, he allowed the plot of land he owned under the bridge to be used to repair it for community use. The rapid replacement process allowed the newly completed bridge to be fully opened just shy of nine months after Hurricane Helene; and

 

Whereas, the bridge now stands as an example of the perseverance of South Carolinians in the wake of Hurricane Helene, in that the project was completed in a fast and efficient manner in the face of natural disasters with the help of dedicated neighbors like James Smith; and

 

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives values the dedication and selfless service of citizens like James Smith, and the members applaud his help in restoring the bridge to the community. 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 James B. Smith, community leader in Oconee County, and express deep appreciation to him for his dedicated support in reopening the Chauga River bridge after its destruction during Hurricane Helene, part of which spans over his property.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to James B. Smith.

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