TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR CURTIS R. WATSON, UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT, AFTER THIRTY-NINE YEARS AS AN EDUCATOR, AND TO WISH HIM MUCH SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

Whereas, the members of the Senate of the State of South Carolina are pleased to learn that Curtis R. Watson will begin a well-earned retirement after thirty-nine years of dedication as an educator in South Carolina and that he will be honored at a celebration at the Clarion Hotel on June 25, 2011; and

Whereas, after he earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Benedict College in 1969, he taught math at Robert Schroder Middle School in Charleston from 1970 to 1974; and

Whereas, for twelve years from 1976 to 1988, he taught math for Richland School District One at W. A. Perry Middle School, and he completed a master's degree in counselor education from South Carolina State College in 1980 and did postgraduate work in education administration at the University of South Carolina; and

Whereas, he began serving Richland School District Two as a math instructor at Dent Middle School in 1988, and in 1990, he joined the administration at Joseph Keels Elementary School as an assistant principal; and

Whereas, Curtis Watson became the principal of Bethel Hanberry Elementary School in 1994 and remained there until he became principal at Killian Elementary School in 1998; and

Whereas, since 2002, he has served as the principal and director of W. R. Rogers Adult, Continuing, and Technology Education Center; and

Whereas, he is a member of the South Carolina Association of School Administrators and the Commission on Adult Basic Education; and

Whereas, together with his beloved wife, the former Dale Glenn, he has raised two fine children, Jason and Marla, and he is a member of First Nazareth Baptist Church; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate are grateful for the standard of excellence that Curtis R. Watson has set in educating the youth of the Palmetto State and wish him many years of health and happiness in his much-deserved retirement. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the Senate of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, recognize and honor Curtis R. Watson, upon the occasion of his retirement, after thirty-nine years as an educator, 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 Curtis R. Watson.