TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND THE HONORABLE DON CARSON BOWEN OF ANDERSON COUNTY FOR HIS DEDICATED SERVICE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON BEHALF OF HIS CONSTITUENTS AND THE CITIZENS OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND TO WISH HIM MUCH SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives learned with sincere regret that Don Bowen will depart from the House of Representatives at the conclusion of his current term; and
Whereas, Don Bowen was born in Charleston on May 7, 1945, he is the son of Carson and Rebecca Bowen; and
Whereas, Representative Bowen earned a bachelor's degree from the University of South Carolina and completed the Fellowship Program in Educational Policy sponsored by the University of South Carolina and the House of Representatives; and
Whereas, he married his beloved wife, Tomilyn Forrester Bowen, on May 7, 1971, and together they reared three fine children: Amy, Don, Jr., and Ward; and
Whereas, deeply involved in his community, Representative Bowen has served as the chairman of the United Way for BiLo Supermarkets and as a member of the Anderson County School District One Reform Movement; and
Whereas, he serves as the chairman of the Anderson Area Accountability Association, and he was appointed by Anderson County Council to the Anderson Ad Hoc Property Tax Study Committee; and
Whereas, Don Bowen has faithfully served the citizens of District 8 in the House of Representatives since 2007, during which time he has served as the vice chair of the Invitations and Memorial Resolutions Committee and as a member of the Judiciary Committee; and
Whereas, his tireless efforts in support of legislation to ban texting while driving in our State will stand for decades to come as a significant legacy of his time in this chamber and will doubtless save the lives of countless drivers on our roadways; and
Whereas, in all of his service, he has provided clear insight and reasoned approaches to matters that impact his district and our State. He devoted countless hours to helping solve water problems facing not only the upstate but our neighboring state of Georgia as well. He was instrumental in forming a joint commission with Georgia representatives to address these issues in the Savannah River Basin and elsewhere in our two states; and
Whereas, Don Bowen is one of the most personable and outgoing members of the General Assembly who with his warm smile and friendly demeanor has never met a stranger; and
Whereas, the members of the House of Representatives will miss the keen and impassioned service that Don Bowen, their friend and colleague, has given to the House of Representatives, and they hope that he will enjoy deep fulfillment in the years to come. 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 commend the Honorable Don Carson Bowen of Anderson County for his dedicated service in the House of Representatives on behalf of his constituents and the citizens of South Carolina and wish him much success and happiness in all his future endeavors.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Honorable Don Carson Bowen.