A Senate RESOLUTION

TO CONGRATULATE martha casto UPON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT, TO COMMEND HER FOR HER forty-one YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE, AND TO WISH HER MUCH HAPPINESS AND FULFILLMENT IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate are pleased to recognize Martha Casto upon the occasion of her retirement from the South Carolina Senate; and

Whereas, a native of South Carolina, Martha was born to parents Reverend J. Edward Craig and Lola Faye Craig. Martha is an alumna of Clemson University, where she was a member of Kappa Delta, and she earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of South Carolina; and

Whereas, Martha began her career in state government following her graduate school internship, working in Governor Riley's office from August 1983 until January of 1987. In the Governor's Office, she discovered her passion for working with the legislature; and

Whereas, Martha began her career in the General Assembly with the House Ways and Means Committee in 1987 under Chairman Bob McLellan, serving until February 1991, at which time she began working for the South Carolina Department of Transportation; and

Whereas, Martha began working for the Senate in September 1997 as the Research Director for the Labor, Commerce, and Industry Committee under Chairman J. Verne Smith. In 2006, she transitioned to the role of Research Director of the Rules Committee under Chairman Larry Martin, then, in 2007, to Research Director of the Medical Affairs under Chairman Harvey Peeler, and then, in 2018, to Research Director of the Education Committee, also under Chairman Harvey Peeler. She then served as Chief of Staff for the Office of the President of the Senate under Senator Harvey Peeler and, most recently, as staff in the Office of the President of the Senate under Senator Thomas Alexander; and

Whereas, in July 2023, Martha served as the Head Coordinator of the most successful annual meeting of the Southern Legislative Conference in Charleston; and

Whereas, over the years, Martha has received a number of honors and awards, including the Order of the Palmetto from Governor Riley; and

Whereas, a devout Christian, she is an elder at Eastminster Presbyterian Church and has been involved in many church committees; and

Whereas, Martha is married to Jeff Casto; and

Whereas, in her free time, she enjoys traveling, gardening, reading, and supporting her beloved Clemson Tigers; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate appreciate the passion and dedication that Martha has shown in serving the people and the State of South Carolina.  Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, congratulate Martha Casto upon the occasion of her retirement, commend her for her forty-one years of dedicated service, and wish her much happiness and fulfillment in the years ahead.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Martha Casto.

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