A senate RESOLUTION

TO CONGRATULATE Stephen H. Smith UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT, TO COMMEND HIM FOR HIS many YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE, AND TO WISH HIM MUCH HAPPINESS AND FULFILLMENT IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate are pleased to recognize Stephen H. Smith upon the occasion of his retirement; and

Whereas, a native of Spartanburg, Mr. Smith is the son of Senator Horace Smith from Spartanburg, who served in the South Carolina Senate from 1966 to 1992. He is a 1971 alumnus of the University of South Carolina; and

Whereas, Mr. Smith began his career as a page in the South Carolina Senate while a student at the university. In 1974, prominent lobbyist William N. Bowen of the South Carolina Savings and Loan League hired Mr. Smith as an assistant. Mr. Smith later became president and CEO of the organization, where he served until his departure in 1995. He then formed the contract lobbying firm, Capitol Strategies, Inc.; and

Whereas, during his career, Mr. Smith has been involved in numerous major lobbying efforts, including serving as a coordinator for the Beach Front Coalition of Banks and Developers in 1986, serving as legislative coordinator for the Association of Lenders and Creditors in 1982, and working for the legislative authorization of Interstate Banking in 1996; and

Whereas, although he has been involved in many other issues, Mr. Smith's primary focus has been on hundreds of banking matters. He has worked with eight governors, eight Speakers of the House, and fourteen presidents of the Senate, including lieutenant governors; and

Whereas, having served in many leadership positions of the American Diabetes Association at the local, state, and national level, Mr. Smith was elected national chairman of the American Diabetes Association in 2000-2001; and

Whereas, over the years, Mr. Smith has received a number of honors and awards, including the National Charles Best Medal for service to diabetes; and

Whereas, an instrument rated aircraft pilot, Mr. Smith lost his license to fly after developing diabetes in the nineties. Working with United States Senators Strom Thurmond and Ernest Hollings, Mr. Smith and others convinced the FHA to implement proposed regulations allowing insulin dependent diabetic pilots in America to fly under strict protocols; and

Whereas, Mr. Smith is married to Sharon Floyd Smith, and together, they have three children, Stephen Jr., Lindsey Smith Batavia, and Meredith Dyar, and seven grandchildren. He is father and grandfather to three generations of Senate pages including himself, his son, Stephen Jr., and his grandson, Tripp, who was a page for Senator Shane Martin in 2023. His daughter-in-law, Holly Gerhart Smith, was a page for former Senator John Drummond; and

Whereas, in his free time, he enjoys piloting his boat in the waterways in Georgetown or on the sport fishing boat "Bruno" and playing piano and electronic keyboard. He also sang in a small duo that played in various venues during the nineties; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate appreciate the passion and dedication that Mr. Smith 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 Stephen H. Smith upon the occasion of his retirement, commend him for his many years of dedicated service, and wish him much happiness and fulfillment in the years ahead.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Stephen H. Smith.

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