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TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND MR. HORACE E. HARMON, JR., FOR THIRTY-THREE YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE AS DIRECTOR OF THE LEXINGTON COUNTY MUSEUM UPON HIS RETIREMENT, AND TO WISH HIM MANY YEARS OF HEALTH AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
Whereas, it is with considerable pleasure that the South Carolina General Assembly honors those individuals who give tirelessly of themselves to the betterment of this great State's citizenry; and
Whereas, Mr. Horace E. Harmon, Jr., retiring Director of the Lexington County Museum, stands among their number as an outstanding public benefactor, one greatly admired in his role as preservationist, historian, lecturer on German history and genealogy, and administrator; and
Whereas, in preparation for his life's work, lifelong Lutheran Horace E. Harmon, Jr., graduated from Newberry College with a degree in history and, while in graduate school at the University of South Carolina, worked in the Reference Department of the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. He also was a Research Fellow at the Institute of Southern Studies at the University of South Carolina and served his country in the United States Coast Guard for four years; and
Whereas, on May 13, 1974, he assumed his duties as Director of the Lexington County Museum and has since built the museum into a prestigious, nationally respected institution frequented by visitors from every state in the Union and countless foreign countries. At every level, Mr. Harmon has made himself felt: Ninety-five percent of the buildings on the museum campus are there because of his leadership, and he did much of the restoration work on these buildings himself; in establishing the educational programs and daily tours of the museum, he has provided for the enrichment of multitudes of people, including the twenty thousand school children who visit the museum's exhibits yearly; and he is such a renowned authority and steward of Lexington County history that many people have contributed family heirlooms to be preserved in the museum, items such as the antique Lexington County-made gun collection; and
Whereas, Mr. Harmon is past president of the Confederation of South Carolina Local Historical Societies and of the South Carolina Federation of Museums, has served in almost every capacity in every museum, history, and genealogy organization in the State, and has received every award given by them, notably the Professional Service Award from the South Carolina Museum Federation; and
Whereas, in one of the highest tributes to Mr. Harmon's legacy, Dr. Walter B. Edgar, Professor of History at the University of South Carolina, said, "The Lexington County Museum is one of the finest museums in the State of South Carolina, due to the extraordinary vision, dedication, and devotion of Horace Harmon"; and
Whereas, having made his mark and set the bar of achievement extraordinarily high for his institution, this icon of the Lexington County Museum will be remembered with affection and gratitude for years to come. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, recognize and commend Mr. Horace E. Harmon, Jr., for thirty-three years of dedicated service as Director of the Lexington County Museum upon his retirement, and wish him many years of health and happiness in all his future endeavors.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Mr. Horace E. Harmon, Jr.
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