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TO EXTEND HEARTIEST CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES TO MR. LUTHER C. SHELTON, JR. ON THE OCCASION OF HIS NINETIETH BIRTHDAY AND TO WISH HIM MANY MORE YEARS OF HEALTH AND HAPPINESS.
Whereas, the members of the Senate are extremely pleased and proud to learn that Mr. Luther C. "Skip" Shelton, Jr. will celebrate his ninetieth birthday on March 12, 2013; and
Whereas, this amazing and talented man was born in Cleveland, Ohio to Luther Conway Shelton and Ida Sanders Shelton; and
Whereas, Skip was raised in Greenville, South Carolina with two brothers and one sister, Sue Dubose; and
Whereas, called to war after completing one year at Furman University, he was a member of the 448th bomb group as a pilot in England in 1944, where he flew seventeen missions over Germany; and
Whereas, during this time he began painting "nose art" on military airplanes; and
Whereas, his first painting was on his B-24 bomber that he flew in combat over Germany and later was a staff artist for a military newspaper in Europe called "Stars and Stripes"; and
Whereas, upon returning to the United States, Skip became the staff artist for "The Greenville News" and began a career as a corporate pilot for Milliken and Company, flying executives, business leaders, a former president, and other famous people including Johnny Carson and Jim Nabors; and
Whereas, in 1968 he wrote a book "Into the Wild Blue Humor" in which he chronicled his twenty-five years of flying; and
Whereas, over the years Skip has painted over one hundred murals in the Southeast and has thoroughly enjoyed painting almost any subject including famous faces, local landscapes, historic buildings, and modern homes, on any type of surface; and
Whereas, he and his wife, Shirley, live in Greenwood and Skip has been blessed with two children, Buddy and Michele, and four grandchildren; and
Whereas, his devoted family together with his many friends will gather for a birthday celebration on March 12, 2013, at the Arts Center in Greenwood; and
Whereas, the South Carolina Senate would like to honor this extraordinary American and South Carolinian for his truly exemplary career as a member of the armed forces, pilot, and artist which has touched the lives of so many. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate:
That the members of the Senate, by this resolution, extend their heartiest congratulations and best wishes to Mr. Luther C. Shelton, Jr. on the occasion of his ninetieth birthday and to wish him many more years of health and happiness.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Luther C. "Skip" Shelton, Jr.
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