Download This Version in Microsoft Word format
TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR DARLA MOORE, LAKE CITY NATIVE, FAMED BUSINESSWOMAN, AND COMMITTED PHILANTHROPIST, FOR HER MANY YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE PALMETTO STATE AND MOST PARTICULARLY TO THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
Whereas, it is with great pleasure that the South Carolina General Assembly honors those individuals who give tirelessly of themselves to the welfare of this great state's citizenry; and
Whereas, Lake City native Darla Moore, vice president of Rainwater, Inc., stands among their number as an outstanding public benefactor, one much admired in her role as both businesswoman and philanthropist; and
Whereas, in preparation for a storied career in business, Darla Moore earned a bachelor's degree in political science at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. After gaining early experience in the political arena, she completed her MBA at George Washington University in 1982; and
Whereas, she joined Chemical Bank and began to perfect her skills in her focus area of banking. Ms. Moore's resulting success inspired profiles in leading industry magazines such as Forbes, Fortune, and the Wall Street Journal. She became the highest-paid woman in the history of the banking industry and rose to managing director of Chemical Bank and later another major bank; and
Whereas, after her 1991 marriage to investor Richard Rainwater, Ms. Moore worked with her husband to achieve even higher levels of business success. Her triumphs in the banking and investment industries became legendary and led to positions on numerous corporate, educational, and philanthropic boards, such as those of Magellan Health Services, the South Carolina Governor's Commission on Teacher Quality, New York University School of Medicine Foundation, and the University of South Carolina; and
Whereas, building on such success would be a challenge, but Darla Moore grasped another opportunity to make a difference. In 1998, USC announced the first of what has become $75 million in gifts from Ms. Moore to the university, making her the largest donor in the university's history. Her first gift was appointed to the USC School of Business, now known as the Darla Moore School of Business, the first such school in American history to be named for a woman; and
Whereas, Darla Moore's generosity has been a catalyst for private giving to the University of South Carolina. In 1998, the total private donations to the university was approximately $24 million dollars. This year, exclusive of Ms. Moore's gifts, the university will receive over $100 million dollars in private contributions; and
Whereas, in 2002, Ms. Moore founded the nonprofit Palmetto Institute with the mission to increase per capita income for every South Carolinian by focusing on education. In 2003, she donated $10 million to Clemson University's School of Education, which was renamed the Eugene T. Moore School of Education in honor of her father. Her latest gift, announced on March 24, 2011, pledges $5 million toward the construction of a new aerospace center at the University of South Carolina; and
Whereas, with such an illustrious career, Ms. Moore has received numerous accolades. Of particular note, she was the first woman featured on the cover of Fortune and was also named to the Fortune list of top fifty most powerful women in American business. She has received several honorary doctorates and in 1998 was granted the State of South Carolina's highest civilian honor, the Order of the Palmetto. She was inducted into the South Carolina Business Hall of Fame in 2007; and
Whereas, cognizant of her dedicated pursuit of excellence for herself and her great desire that all South Carolinians should have the means to strive for that same excellence, the General Assembly acknowledges with grateful thanks Darla Moore's longtime generous giving to her beloved native State and her strong commitment to continue working with USC and South Carolina; and
Whereas, the members especially wish to express their gratitude for Ms. Moore's twelve years of faithful service on the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees. The importance of her leadership, service, and philanthropy in South Carolina cannot be overestimated, and her constant push for excellence will be a standing legacy among her numerous other contributions to this great State. 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 honor Darla Moore, Lake City native, famed businesswoman, and committed philanthropist, for her many years of service to the Palmetto State and most particularly to the University of South Carolina.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be provided to Darla Moore.
This web page was last updated on April 12, 2011 at 2:11 PM