A concurrent RESOLUTION

 

TO REQUEST THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE PORTION OF Johnston STREET IN THE CITY OF ROCK HILL IN YORK COUNTY FROM THE ON RAMP TO DAVe LYLE BOULEVARD TO SOUTH WILSON STREET "OFFICER ROBERT GILMORE JOHNSTON MEMORIAL STREET" AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS AT THIS LOCATION CONTAINING THESE WORDS.

 

Whereas, Robert Gilmore Johnston was born in July 1856 in York County. He fathered three children with his first wife and in 1892, married Nancy Bailey who brought several children into the family; and

 

Whereas, the family lived in Fort Mill where Robert joined the police force around 1892. He was later

appointed as chief of police in Fort Mill. In around 1904, Robert joined the Rock Hill Police Department; and

 

Whereas, at around three o'clock in the morning on Thursday, January 18, 1906, Officer Johnston was making a fire in the stove to warm the city council chamber. As he bent over to shovel coal into the stove, his .41 caliber Colt revolver slipped from its holster and fell into the coal box. The hammer on the revolver struck a large lump of coal causing it to discharge. The bullet entered Officer Johnston near his collarbone on his left side, ranged downward, struck the spinal column, and exited below his right shoulder blade; and

 

Whereas, others in the building heard the gunshot and hurried to help the paralyzed officer. They were able to prevent him from bleeding to death until the physicians arrived. Officer Johnston was able to be moved to the Rock Hill Hospital at around ten o'clock. He grew weaker throughout the day and night. Officer Johnston died early on Friday morning; and

 

Whereas, on Saturday, January 20, 1906, funeral services were held for Officer Robert G. Johnston at the Presbyterian Church in Fort Mill, and he was buried in the town cemetery. He was survived by his second wife, his three children born to his first wife, several stepchildren, two brothers, and a sister. His brother, Newton Johnston, was serving as a policeman with the Chester Police Department at the time of his brother's death; and

 

Whereas, officer Robert G. Johnston was inducted into the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame on September 30, 2020, never to be forgotten; and

 

Whereas, it would be fitting and proper to name a portion of Johnston Street in the City of Rock Hill in honor of this fallen law enforcement officer. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

 

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, request the Department of Transportation name the portion of Johnston Street in the City of Rock Hill in York County from the on ramp to Dave Lyle Boulevard to South Wilson Street "Officer Robert Gilmore Johnston Memorial Street" and erect appropriate markers or signs at this location containing these words.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Department of Transportation.

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