A house RESOLUTION

TO CONGRATULATE ROBERT J. "DUKE" SHORT, FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE HONORABLE J. STROM THURMOND, ON THE OCCASION OF HIS EIGHTY-NINTH BIRTHDAY AND TO WISH HIM MUCH HAPPINESS IN THE DAYS AHEAD.

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that Robert J. "Duke" Short is celebrating his eighty-ninth birthday on March 31, 2023; and

Whereas, born in Moultrie, Georgia, on March 31, 1934, Mr. Short earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from North Georgia College in 1956, where he served as the president of Sigma Theta and was a member of Scabbard and Blade; and

Whereas, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army upon graduating from North Georgia College and served our great nation in the United States Army bravely and with distinction in the 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division, the same unit in which Senator Strom Thurmond served with during World War II; and

Whereas, following his service in the military, Mr. Short continued his service to our nation as a special agent with the United States Department of Treasury's Intelligence Division for two years; and

Whereas, Mr. Short continued his education, earning a Doctor of Chiropractic from Palmer College in 1965, and upon graduation, he returned to the United States Department of Treasury as a special agent in the Organized Crime Strike Force in Miami and served as one of the first "Sky Marshals"; and

Whereas, in the early 1970s, Mr. Short served as the national chief of investigations for the Federal Protective Services, before beginning his distinguished career with the United States Senate in 1974 as a senior investigator for the United States Senate Subcommittee on Internal Security and later as staff director and chief investigator for the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary; and

Whereas, in 1988, Senator Strom Thurmond appointed Mr. Short as his chief of staff, and he served in this crucial role until Senator Thurmond retired in 2003.  Mr. Short's commitment, diligence, selfless service, and loyalty to Senator Thurmond and to the entire staff during his tenure were unwavering and renowned; and

Whereas, in 2006, Mr. Short authored The Centennial Senator: True Stories of Strom Thurmond from the People Who Knew Him Best, a compilation of personal stories of friends, staffers, colleagues, and constituents of Senator Thurmond; and

Whereas, throughout Mr. Short's illustrious career in public service, he received many accolades marking his significant achievements and contributions to our nation and the to State of South Carolina, including the Order of the Palmetto from Governor James Hodges, South Carolina's highest civilian honor; Roll Call's Fifty Most Powerful Staffers in Congress; Counselor to the Chief Judge of the United States Court of Military Appeals; Honorary Federal Judge of the United States Claims Court; Honorary Major General in the Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers; United Service Organization's Appreciation Award; Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Appreciation Award; and the Academy of Chiropractic Fellows of Palmer College; and

Whereas, Mr. Short married the former Denise "Dee" Powers on May 23, 1992, and they will celebrate their thirty-first wedding anniversary this May; and

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives takes great pleasure in honoring this esteemed citizen, veteran, and public servant on the occasion of his eighty-ninth birthday, and the members are delighted to join with his family and friends in congratulating him.  Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, congratulate Robert J. "Duke" Short on the occasion of his eighty-ninth birthday and wish him much happiness in the days ahead.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Robert J. "Duke" Short.

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