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TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SYMPATHY OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AT THE PASSING OF HOWARD EUGENE "WHITE BULL" NORRIS, CHIEF OF THE STATE-RECOGNIZED PIEDMONT AMERICAN INDIAN ASSOCIATION/LOWER EASTERN CHEROKEE NATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
Whereas, with deep respect the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives honor the memory of Chief Howard E. "White Bull" Norris, who departed this life on May 18, 2017; and
Whereas, the son of the late Howard and Florence Norris, Chief Norris was born on November 27, 1940, in Canton, North Carolina, and served with distinction in the United States Air Force; and
Whereas, he followed military service with an award-winning career as a graphic designer and artist. A life-long artist and advocate, he retired as a production manager in advertising; and
Whereas, Chief Norris encouraged the continuation of traditional Native American Indian arts and crafts within his tribe and across the State and advocated for their inclusion through legislation and policy changes in South Carolina; and
Whereas, a dedicated public servant, he established Christmas in the Park in Simpsonville in 1991 to help needy families have a brighter Christmas, an initiative for which he was named Citizen of the Year and which has grown from serving seventy individuals to over five hundred each year; and
Whereas, Chief Norris served as a member of the Laurens County Community Relations Council and a board member of several non-profit organizations serving Native American Indians in the State, and he established Kid's Days at the tribal grounds to teach public school children about Native American Indian and Cherokee culture, serving thousands of school children each year; and
Whereas, a humble servant of the Lord, he assisted his beloved wife, Victoria, with Sunday school classes, volunteered with vacation Bible school, built sets for plays, and volunteered to clean the church he cherished, Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church; and
Whereas, devoted to his beliefs, Chief Norris was an outspoken pro-life advocate and a passionate tribal leader for over thirty years, one of the founding members of the Piedmont American Indian Association (PAIA) in 1984, a member of the Governor's Palmetto Indian Affairs Commission in 1986, and founder of the PAIA/ Lower Eastern Cherokee Nation of South Carolina as a Cherokee tribal community in 1995; and
Whereas, Chief Norris served on the South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs' Native American Affairs Ad Hoc Committee in 1999, where as a founding member he promoted legislation and policy for state recognition of Native American Tribal communities; and
Whereas, in 2003, Chief Norris and other tribal community leaders saw the establishment of state recognition in South Carolina. He continued to serve on the Native American Advisory Committee as its chairman and was instrumental in the passing of the Native American Indian Marriage Bill; and
Whereas, Chief Norris endeavored to ensure that his fellow Native Americans had a level playing field whenever their welfare was affected, and with his wife, he devoted himself, their income, and their personal assets to improving the status of Indian people in this State; and
Whereas, Chief Norris and his wife raised three fine children: Dwight, Denise, and James. They were a force not be defeated nor ignored and who would light the path for others who could lead a people determined to take their rightful place in the history, culture, and rights afforded to citizens of South Carolina but often denied to Indians; and
Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, celebrates the life of Chief Howard Eugene "White Bull" Norris and honors his remarkable commitment to Native American affairs, and the members extend their deepest sympathy to his loving family, his tribal members, and his many friends. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, express their profound sympathy upon the passing of Howard Eugene "White Bull" Norris, Chief of the State-Recognized Piedmont American Indian Association/Lower Eastern Cherokee Nation of South Carolina.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Howard Eugene "White Bull" Norris.
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