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TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE DR. CHARLIE BURRY, JR., PRINCIPAL OF HARTSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AFTER FORTY-FIVE YEARS OF DEDICATION TO THE CULTIVATION OF YOUNG MINDS AND TO WISH HIM MUCH CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
Whereas, the members of the House of Representatives of the Palmetto State deem it proper and fitting to pause in their deliberations to honor Dr. Charlie Burry, Jr., who has committed almost half of a century to the students of Hartsville; and
Whereas, Dr. Charlie Burry, Jr., longtime principal of Hartsville High School, will retire at the end of the 2017-2018 school year, bringing to a close forty-five years in public education. The last forty years of his career were spent at Hartsville High School as a teacher, coach, school counselor, and, finally, principal; and
Whereas, Dr. Burry is a 1969 graduate of Hartsville High School and earned a bachelor's degree in history in 1973 from Furman University. He earned a master's degree in education from Francis Marion University in 1976, and in 1993, completed his doctorate in education in curriculum and instruction from the University of South Carolina; and
Whereas, he began his career in teaching and coaching in 1973 with the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) at the South Carolina School for Boys in Florence, South Carolina, as a physical education teacher and at Francis Marion as a graduate assistant basketball coach; and
Whereas, after three years with DJJ, he taught social studies and coached basketball and football at Gilbert High School in Lexington County before returning to Hartsville and his alma mater in 1978. Here, he taught United States' history and sociology for nine years and was a guidance counselor for seventeen years before he became principal, where he remained for the last fourteen years; and
Whereas, furthermore, he coached the Red Fox football program for twenty-six years, serving as a varsity assistant from 1987 through 2003. He also coached basketball and tennis at other times during a thirty-one year coaching career, prior to becoming principal; and
Whereas, Hartsville High School has experienced great progress during Dr. Burry's tenure as principal. Academic and fine arts programs have improved, new facilities have been built and old ones renovated, and the Red Fox athletic program has been highly successful. The school also became an International Baccalaureate Programme school and a member of Hartsville's award-winning PULSE initiative; and
Whereas, he is married to Debby Sturgeon of Columbia, and they have two daughters, Beth and Caye, both graduates of Hartsville High School and Furman University; and
Whereas, the members of the House of Representatives of the State of South Carolina thank Dr. Charlie Burry, Jr., for all he has done to better the lives of the students who walked through the doors of his high school for the past forty-five years and wish him much happiness and relaxation 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, honor and recognize Dr. Charlie Burry, Jr., principal of Hartsville High School, on the occasion of his retirement after forty-five years of dedication to the cultivation of young minds and wish him much continued success and happiness in all his future endeavors.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Charlie Burry, Jr.
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