TO CONGRATULATE MR. JACK SPARKES OF MYRTLE BEACH UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS ONE HUNDREDTH BIRTHDAY ON MARCH 2, 2015, AND TO WISH HIM A JOYOUS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AND MANY YEARS OF CONTINUED HEALTH AND HAPPINESS.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate are pleased to learn that Mr. Jack Sparkes will celebrate his one hundredth birthday on March 2, 2015; and

Whereas, although born in North Cambridge, Massachusetts, on March 2, 1914, Mr. Sparkes is fully acclimated to the South, greeting everyone he meets with a "Hi Y'all"; and

Whereas, Mr. Sparkes was a people person even while a student at Somerville High School. He created a high school fraternity, Alpha Delta Sigma, and eventually served as that organization's national president; and

Whereas, Mr. Sparkes attended Norwich University and earned a pre medicine degree in 1940. He received a 2nd Lt. commission in the United States Army 124th Cavalry Regiment in 1942 and served in the Mars Task Force in Burma fighting the Japanese. During his twenty-four years of service in the Army, Mr. Sparkes served tours in Japan, Boston, Washington, DC, Paris, France, and the Pentagon; and

Whereas, near the end of the war, Mr. Sparkes met 2nd Lt. Heidi Zerell in China. The two fell in love, and he proposed on a weekend visit to Beijing, China. The couple was blessed with four children, Jack Jr., Heidi Jean, Robert, and Kenneth. Mrs. Sparkes is remembered by her family as a dedicated and loving wife and mother; and

Whereas, after his retirement from the military in 1966, Mr. Sparks began working as a stock broker and continues to work today as a real estate agent for Century 21 in Myrtle Beach; and

Whereas, Mr. Sparkes moved to Myrtle Beach in 1976 and loves the sunny beach town. Since moving to Myrtle Beach, he discovered a love of travel and took his wife on many overseas cruises; and

Whereas, friends and family will celebrate this extraordinary man, Mr. Jack Sparkes, for his heart of gold, his wit and enthusiasm, and his ability to inspire, on Saturday, February 28, 2015, at the Ocean Club in Myrtle Beach; and

Whereas, the members of the Senate are pleased to honor this son of South Carolina at the celebration of his one hundredth birthday and join with his family and friends in congratulating him on reaching this extraordinary milestone. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the Senate, by this resolution, congratulate Mr. Jack Sparkes upon the occasion of his one hundredth birthday on March 2, 2015, and wish him a joyous birthday celebration and many years of continued health and happiness.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Mr. Jack Sparkes.