H*3969 Session 109 (1991-1992)
H*3969 Concurrent Resolution, By Sheheen
A Concurrent Resolution to commend on the this State's most unselfish and
caring persons, Mrs. Mary L. "Betty" Duffie for her more than twenty-five
years of loving and inspired work with the mentally retarded and handicapped
as the founder and President of the Babcock Center.
05/02/91 House Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate HJ-9
05/07/91 Senate Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence SJ-2
A CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
TO COMMEND ONE OF THIS STATE'S MOST UNSELFISH AND
CARING PERSONS, MRS. MARY L. "BETTY" DUFFIE
FOR HER MORE THAN TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF LOVING AND
INSPIRED WORK WITH THE MENTALLY RETARDED AND
HANDICAPPED AS THE FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF THE
BABCOCK CENTER.
Whereas, Mrs. Mary L. "Betty" Duffie is one of South
Carolina's most outstanding and public-spirited citizens. As the founder
and president of the Babcock Center for the past quarter century, Betty
Duffie's leadership and determination has impacted the lives of
thousands of South Carolinians; and
Whereas, as pioneer in her field, she was in the forefront of developing
community programs for persons with mental retardation even before the
creation of the South Carolina Department of Mental Retardation, and
through the development of community programs and services in the late
1960's she provided an alternative to institutionalization; and
Whereas, since its inception, the Babcock Center has flourished under
her leadership, determination, and guidance. Over the past twenty-five
years Babcock Center has grown from a program serving a handful of
children in the basement of a church, to a comprehensive network of
service options including child development services, adult vocational
services, and an array of residential services. Babcock Center currently
serves over seven hundred clients daily, within primary service areas of
Richland and Lexington Counties; and
Whereas, as a state and national leader in mental retardation, Betty
Duffie is responsible for a series of "firsts". For example:
(a) In 1968, she organized the first Special Olympics program in
South Carolina. For over ten years she served as volunteer executive
director of the South Carolina Special Olympics, helping to organize the
Special Olympics on state, regional, and national levels.
(b) In 1971, Babcock Center was the first private nonprofit
agency to contract with the South Carolina Department of Mental
Retardation to provide community services in South Carolina.
(c) In 1978, Babcock Center became the first agency of its kind to
secure funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development to develop group homes; and
Whereas, she was instrumental in establishing the South Carolina
Human Service Providers Association, a coalition of private providers
who share information and promote service quality. Mrs. Duffie helped
develop the Executive Directors Academy which provides training and
credentials to leaders in the field, and nationally, has served as the South
Carolina Representative for the National Association of Private
Residential Resources; and
Whereas, her contributions have been recognized and appreciated by her
peers throughout South Carolina. Among the many awards she has
received are the following:
(1) 1972 and 1981 Sertoma Service to Mankind Award;
(2) 1975 S.C. Department of Mental Retardation Outstanding Individual Leadership Award;
(3) 1979 Boy Scouts of America Silver Beaver Award;
(4) 1987 and 1990 March of Dimes Outstanding Women
of Achievement Award; and
(5) 1989 Lexington Civitans Citizen of the Year Award; and
Whereas, the members of the General Assembly, on behalf of the
grateful citizens of South Carolina, would like to publicly recognize and
express to this lovely lady their very deep appreciation for all that she
has done for over a quarter of a century to help those citizens of this
State who are mentally retarded or handicapped and who have needed
her helping hand. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the General Assembly hereby commend one of this
State's most unselfish and caring persons, Mrs. Mary L.
"Betty" Duffie for her more than twenty-five years of loving
and inspired work with the mentally retarded and handicapped as the
founder and president of the Babcock Center.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Mrs.
Duffie.
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