A house RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR Robert Jeffords "Jeff" Barham, UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AFTER more than three decades OF EXEMPLARY SERVICE to south carolina and to the united states, AND TO WISH HIM CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

Whereas, it is altogether fitting and proper that the members of the House of Representatives of the State of South Carolina should pause in their deliberations to express their gratitude to Robert Jeffords "Jeff" Barham for his significant contributions to the United States Army Judge Advocate General's (JAG)  Corps; and

Whereas, born and reared in Columbia, Mr. Barham earned a bachelor's degree from The Citadel in 1981 and a juris doctorate from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1989; and

Whereas, in 1993, Mr. Barham obtained a Master of Laws (L.L.M.) from The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, Virginia. He is admitted to practice law in South Carolina, the United States District Court of South Carolina, the United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit, the United States Army Court of Criminal Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court; and

Whereas, in the proud tradition of the sons of South Carolina, he served in the United States Army on active duty from 1981 to 2001, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and he has served on military bases as a civilian since 2012, together for over thirty-two years. His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit; the Meritorious Service Medal, awarded three times; the Army Commendation Medal, awarded five times; and the Southwest Asia Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars. He is Airborne qualified and Air Assault qualified, and he is a United States Army Ranger and a combat veteran of the first Gulf War; and

Whereas, after his retirement from the military, Mr. Barham practiced civilian law as an associate attorney from 2001 to 2006 and then as a partner from 2007 to 2012 in the law firm of Barnes, Alford, Stork and Johnson, L.L.P., in Columbia; and

Whereas, as a civilian employee, Mr. Barham served first with the 7th Signal Command on Fort Gordon, Georgia, as attorney-advisor from 2012 to 2014.  He has served since 2014 as the primary attorney-advisor responsible for the Army's standards of conduct program on Fort Jackson under the authority delegated from the Designated Agency Ethics Official of the Army General Counsel; and

Whereas, together with his beloved wife of thirty-nine years, Valerie, he reared three fine children: Bobby, Ryan, and Kelsey.  His children have blessed him with the affection of six loving grandchildren: Parker, Wade, Leighton, Jude, Libby, and Grier; and

Whereas, he plans many happy hours of retirement spending time with his grandchildren, traveling with Valerie, and helping veterans for whom he has always cared so deeply; and

Whereas, grateful for his many years of distinguished service to the JAG Corps, the South Carolina House of Representatives take great pleasure in extending best wishes to Jeff Barham as he transitions to a richly deserved retirement and the unhurried pace of the days ahead, and the members wish him many years of enjoyment in his well-earned retirement. 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 Robert Jeffords "Jeff" Barham, upon the occasion of his retirement after more than three decades of exemplary service to South Carolina and to the United States, and wish him continued success and happiness in all his future endeavors.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Robert Jeffords "Jeff" Barham.

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