Committee Report

March 29, 2023

H. 4000

Introduced by Reps. Jefferson, Cobb-Hunter, Gatch, Robbins, Brewer, Tedder and Murphy

S. Printed 03/29/23--H.

Read the first time February 21, 2023

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The committee on House Invitations and Memorial Resolutions

To who was referred a Concurrent Resolution (H. 4000) to request the Department of Transportation name the portion of United States Highway 78 beginning at mile point 12.79 and ending at mile point 22.39 in Dorchester, etc., respectfully

Report:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

DENNIS MOSS for Committee.

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A concurrent RESOLUTION

TO REQUEST THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME the PORTION OF UNITED STATES HIGHWAY 78 BEGINNING AT MILE POINT 12.79 AND ENDING AT MILE POINT 22.39 IN DORCHESTER COUNTY "LAVEL 'TYLER' NORMAN DAVIS, JR. MEMORIAL HIGHWAY" AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS or signs along this portion of highway CONTAINING THESE WORDS.

Whereas, a native of Ridgeville, Lavel "Tyler" Norman Davis, Jr., was born on January 7, 2002, the eldest of three children of Thaddeus Lavel Davis and Fallom Simone Davis. A kind-hearted, thoughtful, and caring young man, he loved God and grew up in a loving home with Christian values; and

Whereas, Tyler sang in the church choir, was an active member of the Young People's Department, and was faithful in attending youth church and Sunday School. A young man with a servant's heart and contagious smile, Tyler loved helping others and desired to be an impactful leader; and

Whereas, a devout Christian, Tyler committed his life to the Lord before leaving for college. In 2019, he confessed his hope in Christ at Bethel AME Church under the leadership of Pastor Arthur B. Glover. Tyler was inquisitive about God, always asking about the Bible and the Holy Scriptures; and

Whereas, educated in Dorchester County School District Four, Tyler attended Harleyville-Ridgeville Elementary, Clay Hill Elementary, Harleyville-Ridgeville Middle and Woodland High School. From his earliest age, Tyler excelled both academically and athletically, and for his good works he received numerous academic and athletic awards; and

Whereas, throughout high school Tyler maintained a 3.577 GPA and A-B Honor Roll status. He was also an active participant in the Athletics Leading in Literacy Program. The recipient of multiple football scholarships, Tyler's hard work on and off the field gave him the opportunity to continue his dreams of playing football at the collegiate level; and

Whereas, after graduating from Woodland High in 2020, Tyler honored his commitment to play for the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. As a freshman, he had 20 catches for 515 yards and five touchdowns (an average of 25.75 yards per catch, second best in the country), but he missed the 2021 season due to injury; and

Whereas, during Lavel Davis's career, he earned various honors. In 2022, he was one of sixty-one players and eight Atlantic Coast Conference student-athletes on the 2022 Comeback Player of the Year watch list. In 2020, he was one of five FBS players since 2000 to record 500+ receiving yards on 20 or fewer receptions and was the No. 2 all-time among UVA freshmen receivers with 515 receiving yards. He was named ACC Receiver and Rookie of the Week after becoming the first Cavalier to record 100+ receiving yards in his collegiate debut when he caught four balls for 101 yards and two touchdowns in the season-opening win against Duke. Additionally, he recorded one reception for a 90-yard touchdown against Abilene Christian. That reception tied for the fifth longest pass play in program history and the longest by a Cavalier since Emmanuel Byers found Deyon Williams for 90 yards against Miami in 2005. The pass-play also tied for the fifth longest in the nation in 2020 and was the longest in the ACC that same year; and

Whereas, outside of class, Lavel enjoyed watching 1990s movies and reading Shakespearean plays and the Bible. He was expected to graduate in December 2023 with a bachelor's degree in African American Studies. He dreamed of one day making it to the NFL, opening a local Boys and Girls Club, and making a difference; and

Whereas, tragically the University of Virginia junior was one of three students killed in a campus shooting on November 13, 2022, as a charter bus full of students returned from a class field trip to Washington, D.C.; and

Whereas, it would be fitting and proper to pay homage to Lavel "Tyler" Norman Davis, Jr., an outstanding athlete and accomplished young man whose life held such promise but was tragically cut short by naming a portion of highway in Dorchester County in his memory. 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 United States Highway 78 beginning at mile point 12.79 and ending at mile point 22.39 in Dorchester County "Lavel 'Tyler' Norman Davis Jr. Memorial Highway" and erect appropriate markers or signs along this portion of highway containing these words.

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

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