Bill Text: SC H5355 | 2021-2022 | 124th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Jerry Mize - retirement
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2022-05-10 - Introduced and adopted [H5355 Detail]
Download: South_Carolina-2021-H5355-Introduced.html
A HOUSE RESOLUTION
TO EXPRESS HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO JERRY MIZE ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE POSITION OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE TRIBBLE CENTER IN OCONEE AFTER FOUR DECADES DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF SOUTH CAROLINIANS AND TO WISH HIM MUCH HAPPINESS AND SUCCESS IN ALL OF HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives deem it proper to pause in their deliberations to recognize the career of Jerry Mize who will be retiring from his position of executive director of the Tribble Center. Jerry Mize's commendable career path has seen over four decades of commitment to bettering the lives of individuals with disabilities; and
Whereas, on May 1, 1981, Jerry was hired as direct support staff for the third shift in the residential area of the Tribble Center. Now, over forty years later, he will be retiring from that same center having achieved the position of executive director; and
Whereas, he has held multiple positions in various direct support and supervisory roles in the residential area and the day program. In June 1993, he was promoted to executive director. At the time of his promotion, the Tribble Center had sixty-three staff members and served fewer than one hundred clients; and
Whereas, Jerry's tenure as executive director saw the funding and construction of the administration building in 1996, the expansion of residential services to include thirteen community training homes, serving fifty-two clients, and the addition of three different levels of the supervised living program, serving forty-seven clients; and
Whereas, he was further responsible for the development of the Supervised Living Program III, which was a pilot program approved by the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs. This serves as a transition for clients who are ready to move from a community training home to a less restrictive environment; and
Whereas, Jerry secured the funding to build the Powell Recreation Pond and Complex. This area was created to allow a place for clients, their families, and the Oconee community to fish, picnic, barbeque, or just enjoy the view. It is a recreational space that is completely accessible to all ability types. It even includes a swing set that people in wheelchairs can enjoy; and
Whereas, while Jerry is retiring from his role as executive director, his work improving the lives of those with special needs is not over. He seeks to secure an increase in funding for the Tribble Center in order to provide direct support staff with a higher entry-level wage and to continue working in partnership with the Tribble Foundation to assist those in need by increasing donations. He hopes to expand the day and residential services to address the waiting list and to provide training to staff members who have no formal training in order to qualify them to move into supervisory positions such as house manager. Finally, he will continue to write grants and seek additional funding and corporate sponsors for the Tribble Foundation; and
Whereas, Jerry's obvious passion and drive to help those who can be overlooked in society is a credit to his character and immeasurably valuable to the citizens of the Palmetto State. The members of the House are exceedingly grateful for Jerry's dedication and care. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, express heartfelt gratitude to Jerry Mize on the occasion of his retirement from the position of executive director at the Tribble Center in Oconee after four decades dedicated to improving the lives of South Carolinians and wish him much happiness and success in all of his future endeavors.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Jerry Mize.
