A house RESOLUTION

 

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR JERRY GOVAN, A NATIVE SON OF SOUTH CAROLINA, FOR HIS MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS GREAT STATE.

 

Whereas, Orangeburg native Jerry Govan is the son of the late Roberta and Jerry N. Govan, Sr. A 1976 graduate of Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School, he is also a proud alumnus of South Carolina State University, where he received both his bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in teaching; and

 

Whereas, his professional work experiences include service with the U.S. Department of the Navy; South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control; and South Carolina State University, where he served as director of the Small Business Development Center. Additionally, he served as primary prevention specialist for the Tri-County Commission on Alcohol & Drug Abuse, coordinating the Pre-Trial Intervention Program for the 1st Judicial Circuit and, later, Orangeburg County's People's Assault on Drugs Community Anti-Drug Task Force. He was a school district parent educator, parenting and after-school coordinator, literacy consultant, and dropout prevention coordinator, and he recently retired as county attendance supervisor for Orangeburg Consolidated School Districts 3, 4, and 5. Former Representative Govan and his wife are owners of the Govan Agency, LLC, specializing in life, auto, and commercial insurance; and

 

Whereas, Jerry Govan has a long and distinguished track record of service to the community. He has served in various offices for the Kiwanis Club and with the Orangeburg Consolidated School District Five Foundation, Claflin University Board of Visitors, South Carolina SAEP II Project on Effective School Leadership, and National Black Caucus Institute Financial Literacy Task Force. In 2012, he was selected as a South Carolina Educational Policy Fellow and in 2015 was named a Policy Health Fellow by the South Carolina Institute of Medicine and Public Health; and

 

Whereas, he has not gone unappreciated. Former Representative Govan has been honored for his service by the South Carolina Association of Alcohol & Drug Abuse Directors, Southeastern Association of Educational Opportunities, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., National Council of Negro Women, Inc., Mothers Against Drunk Driving, South Carolina Association of School Administrators Adult Education Directors Division, Claflin University, Edisto-Area Benedict Alumni Club, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., South Carolina State University, South Carolina Education Association, National Black Caucus State Institute, The Links, Inc., American Business Women's Association, South Carolina Alliance of After-School Programs, and South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. Moreover, he was selected to receive the prestigious Dick Riley Award by the National Dropout Prevention Center. In 2015, he was honored by several organizations for his leadership as chairman of the South Carolina School Safety Task Force and in the same year was appointed by then House Speaker Jay Lucas to serve as a member of the Educational Reform Task Force; and

 

Whereas, first elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in November 1992, our former colleague was a past chairman of the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus and only the first House member in the history of the caucus to be twice elected its chair. He served as a member of the House Education & Public Works Committee and chair of the Public Safety Subcommittee, among other committee posts in the House. In addition, he was a member of the National Conference of State Legislatures Education Committee and a 2018 appointee to the Early Learning Opportunity Gaps Advisory Group and National Center for Dropout Prevention Advisory Board; and

 

Whereas, Jerry Govan is married to the former Wanda E. Gibson of Estill, and they have four delightful daughters and seven precious grandchildren. The senior Govans are currently members of the historic Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church of Orangeburg, where Jerry serves as an associate minister. 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 honor Jerry Govan, a native son of South Carolina, for his many accomplishments and contributions to this great State.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Jerry Govan.

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