A senate RESOLUTION

To commend the Honorable Joseph Thomas McElveen III For his committed Service to the South Carolina Senate and the citizens of District 35 and to wish him success in all his future endeavors upon his retirement from the Senate.

Whereas, the Honorable Joseph Thomas McElveen III has faithfully represented the citizens of District 35 for twelve years in the Senate of this great State; and

Whereas, Senator McElveen is no stranger to public service. He prosecuted cases for the Sumter County Sheriff's Office in 2004, served as an assistant public defender in Sumter County from 2004 to 2005, served on the Board of Directors of the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce from 2009 to 2010, and served on the Judicial Qualifications Committee of the South Carolina Bar from 2009 to 2012. He is also on the Shaw-Sumter Community Council, a member of the Sumter Sertoma Club, served as an Honorary Wing Commander (civilian) of the 20^th Fighter Wing at Shaw Air Force Base, is a founding board member of the South Carolina Outdoors Hall of Fame, and a member, deacon, and youth council advisor of the First Presbyterian Church in Sumter; and

Whereas, Senator McElveen graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Davidson College in 2000, before going to the University of South Carolina School of Law to earn his Juris Doctor degree in 2003; and

Whereas, in 2012, Senator McElveen was elected to the South Carolina Senate, where he has proven his value as a member and sits on various Senate committees including Finance; Fish, Game and Forestry; Agriculture and Natural Resources; Transportation; and Family and Veterans' Services, where he served as chairman of the Veterans' subcommittee. During his tenure he also served as chairman of the South Carolina Senate Sportsman's caucus and as chairman of the Sumter County Legislative Delegation; and

Whereas, his leadership skills have been greatly recognized. He is a graduate of Leadership Sumter (Class XVII) and Leadership South Carolina (Class of 2014). He is a Liberty Fellow (Class of 2018 - "United") and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network; and

Whereas, he has received awards and recognition which include the Business Advocate Award from the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, The State newspaper's "20 under 40" award for young business leaders in the Midlands, the 2014 Distinguished Alumnus Award from Wilson Hall, the "Green Tie Award" from the Conservation Voters of SC for Conservation Leadership, the National Guard Association of SC's "Senator of the Year," the Sierra Club of SC's "Legislator of the Year," the "Outstanding Member of the Legislature Award" from the American Legion Department of South Carolina, the "Legislative Champion Award" from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, and the Bobby T. Jones Humanitarian Award; and

Whereas, the members of the Senate will miss the valuable contributions that Senator McElveen has bestowed upon the Senate. On the occasion of his departure, his Senate colleagues, grateful for Senator McElveen's dedicated service to this body and to the people of District 35, extend the warmest best wishes for much contentment and blessing in the days to come. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, commend the Honorable Joesph Thomas McElveen III for his committed service to the South Carolina Senate and the citizens of District 35 and wish him success in all his future endeavors upon his retirement from the Senate.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Honorable Joseph Thomas McElveen III.

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