A concurrent RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR GEE WHETSEL FOR NEARLY FORTY YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE IN THE FIELD OF NEWSPAPER JOURNALISM, MOST HAVING BEEN SPENT AT THE LEE COUNTY OBSERVER IN BISHOPVILLE, AND FOR HER COMMITMENT TO THE BISHOPVILLE COMMUNITY.

Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly has learned that Gee Whetsel, editor of the Lee County Observer for more than thirty years, officially retired on December 31, 2023, after an honored career in newspaper journalism of almost four decades; and

Whereas, over the course of her career, Gee Whetsel always sought to uphold the highest standards in journalism; and

Whereas, further, in the life of a community, few things are as important as communication among its residents so that a sense of community can be developed, neighbors can become friends and learn to trust and serve one another, and local events that help to build quality of life can be planned and carried out. Gee Whetsel labored to make her newspaper a relevant contributor toward achieving those ends; and

Whereas, Gee feels fortunate to have been able to do something she loves and get paid for it, as she expresses it. As a twenty-one-year-old college graduate with a degree in English, she had no idea what she wanted to do until a job opened up at the Lee County Messenger in Bishopville. She applied, had an interview (mostly a spelling test, which she aced), and found herself the paper's new editor; and

Whereas, she learned much about covering community news at that first newspaper job, and she continued to learn during a stint with the Sumter Daily Item before going to work at the Lee County Observer; and

Whereas, while carrying out her duties as editor of the Lee County Observer, Gee found ever-strong support in the person of her husband, Dr. Carl Whetsel, as well as in their five children and seven grandchildren; and

Whereas, during Gee's well-earned retirement, the House trusts she will find herself more frequently able to indulge in traveling across our beautiful country, playing tennis, and spending time with her family (especially those delightful grands); and

Whereas, to recognize Gee Whetsel for her many years of service, her colleagues, friends, and family have hosted several drop-in retirement celebrations in her honor, among them one to be held on Sunday, February 25, 2024; and

Whereas, Gee Whetsel has amply demonstrated her commitment to Bishopville and its people. With much admiration, the General Assembly is pleased to join with the citizens of Bishopville in commending her for her impressive work as editor of the Lee County Observer and in saluting her for four decades of exemplary newspaper journalism. 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 Gee Whetsel for nearly forty years of dedicated service in the field of newspaper journalism, most  having been spent at the Lee County Observer in Bishopville, and for her commitment to the Bishopville community.

Be it further resolved that the copy of this resolution be presented to Gee Whetsel.

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