Bill Text: SC S0236 | 2019-2020 | 123rd General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: County Councilmen David Brown and Carnell Murphy Interchange
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-01-08 - Referred to Committee on Transportation [S0236 Detail]
Download: South_Carolina-2019-S0236-Introduced.html
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
TO REQUEST THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE INTERCHANGE LOCATED AT EXIT 32 IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY ALONG INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 77 THE "COUNTY COUNCILMEN DAVID BROWN & CARNELL MURPHY INTERCHANGE" AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS AT THIS INTERCHANGE THAT CONTAIN THESE WORDS.
Whereas, The Honorable R. David Brown served the people of Fairfield County on county council for thirty-two years, from 1982 to 2014. In that timeframe, Mr. Brown served multiple stints as chairman, but always considered his role as chairman of the Economic Development Committee his most valuable service. In this role, he helped locate Lang Mekra, Rite Aid Distribution, Mack Trucks, Elite ES, MC2, Ben Arnold Distribution and others to the rural community, establishing the Walter Brown Industrial Park along the way; and
Whereas, Mr. Brown's role as an industrial recruiter did not go unnoticed. Governor David Beasley named him an Economic Development Ambassador for the State of South Carolina, and he traveled the world on behalf of the state's economic development efforts, going to Japan, Korea, Germany and elsewhere with state business and political leaders; and
Whereas, aside from economic development, he always advocated for a greater quality of life, particularly on behalf of the citizens of District 7. He worked with local residents in South Winnsboro and the Middle Six community to install street lights and establish a sheriff's substation, thus reducing crime in those areas. He helped create the volunteer fire department system, extend water and sewer lines to rural areas, pave dirt roads, and always advocated for pay raises for county employees when the county could afford them; and
Whereas, a real estate broker by trade, Mr. Brown is also known as a barbecue king from his time as proprietor of Brown's Hickory House BBQ. A lifelong resident of Fairfield County, he is married to the former Melinda Meng, also a lifelong resident of the county, and they have four adult children and three grandchildren -- Emma Pope, Walter Brown and Joseph Brown. He is a member of Sion Presbyterian Church in Winnsboro, where he has served as an elder, deacon and trustee; and
Whereas, The Honorable Carnell Murphy, Sr., served on Fairfield County Council for twenty-two years, serving multiple terms as council chairman; and
Whereas, Mr. Murphy was a lifelong resident of Fairfield County, a place he loved dearly. He graduated from McCrorey-Liston High School in 1965. As a student, Mr. Murphy excelled in academics and athletics. Upon graduating, he attended Voorhees College where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science. Post-graduate studies continued at the University of South Carolina, Clemson University, Coastal Carolina University, the College of Charleston, and South Carolina State University; and
Whereas, he spent much of his life in the educational system. Before retiring, he spent thirty-four years in the Fairfield County Public School System where he served in numerous capacities: teacher, coach, athletic director, transportation supervisor, coordinator of the Stay-in-School Program, hearing officer, and coordinator/director of Adult Education; and
Whereas, Mr. Murphy labored in both the political and civic arenas. His civic affiliations are too numerous to be listed in entirety. However, they include the Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce; Committee of One Hundred; NAACP; Regional Youth Action Council; Rural Transit Assistance Program; Central Midlands Council of Governments; Elected Black Officials in the State of South Carolina; Palmetto Primary Health Care Center; National Association of Counties; and the first Fairfield County Recreational Board; and
Whereas, some of his more notable awards and recognitions are: from the South Carolina House of Representatives for implementing a nationally recognized at-risk program in the county; from the National Institute of Prisons in the planning of new facilities; the I. DeQuincy Newman Award for work in county government; from USA Today for the most consecutive championships in female athletics; chair of the Judicial Review Committee of Black Elected Officials in the State of South Carolina; Executive Committee member of the Central Carolina Economic Development Alliance Board; an appointment by the Governor of the State of South Carolina to the State Workforce Investment Board; and being selected to address the South Carolina General Assembly on Reapportionment; and
Whereas, Mr. Murphy was an active member of Shiloh First Independent Church where he served as steward, program coordinator and on the food committee; and
Whereas, he was married for more than forty-three years to Elizabeth Davis Murphy. They had four children and numerous grandchildren; and
Whereas, to help enhance Fairfield County's job recruitment efforts, Misters Brown and Murphy worked with former Congressman John Spratt and former United States Senator Fritz Hollings to gain funding for the Exit 32 interchange, which has proven to better service three industrial parks in Fairfield County's I-77 corridor, as well as residents of the southern part of Fairfield County; and
Whereas, members of the General Assembly have known Misters Brown and Murphy as truly dedicated public servants -- hardworking, loyal, friendly, cooperative, and supportive; and
Whereas, they brought to the Fairfield County Council experience, knowledge, and exceptional ability as public servants, and these attributes served them well in their many varied duties in Fairfield County, the Midlands region and the State; and
Whereas, it would be fitting and proper for the members of the General Assembly to forever recognize Councilmen Brown and Murphy's many accomplishments by having the interchange located at Exit 32 in Fairfield County along Interstate Highway 77 named in their honor. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
That the members of the General Assembly request the Department of Transportation name the interchange located at Exit 32 in Fairfield County along Interstate Highway 77 the "County Councilmen David Brown & Carnell Murphy Interchange" and erect appropriate markers or signs at this interchange that contain these words.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Department of Transportation and to the Brown and Murphy families.
