TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR RICHARD BAINES, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF BROAD RIVER ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, FOR A LIFETIME OF SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, AND TO CONGRATULATE HIM FOR OVER THIRTY YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO BROAD RIVER ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina General Assembly are grateful for more than thirty years of dedicated service that Richard Baines has given over twenty thousand members of Broad River Electric Cooperative; and

Whereas, born in Cherokee County on September 26, 1941, he graduated from Gaffney High School and earned a bachelor in business administration from Limestone College in 1981; and

Whereas, he married his beloved wife, Katie Willard Baines, now retired Cherokee County Clerk of Court, and together they reared two fine children, Denise and Susan, who have blessed them with four adoring grandchildren; and

Whereas, he began working for Monsanto Textile Company in Blacksburg in 1963, where he served for almost twenty years; and

Whereas, in 1982, he began serving as an administrative assistant for Broad River Electric Cooperative, Inc., and since 1994, he has served the cooperative as president and chief executive officer; and

Whereas, when federal legislation threatened to harm the financial well-being of the state's most economically depressed consumers, Richard Baines successfully held thoughtful, polite discourse with South Carolina's congressional delegation; and

Whereas, he led Broad River Electric Cooperative with seven other cooperatives in testing a program to weatherize cooperative-served homes across the State, an effort that will conserve energy supplies and save participants money on their electric bills; and

Whereas, due to his influence on major energy issues facing South Carolina and our nation, he was named South Carolina Ambassador for Economic Development in 2005; and

Whereas, he guided his community wisely in the transition from a textile- and agriculture-based economy to one with more diverse businesses through his leadership as past president of Cherokee County Personnel Association, Cherokee County International Management Council, Cherokee American Red Cross, Cherokee County United Way, and Gaffney Lion's Club; and

Whereas, a devoted member of Limestone Street United Methodist Church, he served on church boards, councils, and committees, and he served the community on the boards of Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, Cherokee County YMCA, South Carolina Textile Manufacturer's Association, and Gaffney Rotary Club; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina General Assembly are grateful for the life of dedication and commitment that Richard Baines has given to South Carolina and take great pride in commending this son of the Palmetto State. 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, recognize and honor Richard Baines, President and Chief Executive Officer of Broad River Electric Cooperative, for a lifetime of service to the citizens of South Carolina, and congratulate him for over thirty years of outstanding service to Broad River Electric Cooperative.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Richard Baines.