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TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MR. RALPH RAYMOND PORTER, JR. OF FLORENCE AND TO HONOR HIS MANY YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE PEE DEE AREA.
Whereas, Mr. Ralph Raymond Porter, Jr., who passed away in November 2014 at the age of sixty-six, was the retired police chief of the City of Florence. He retired in 2000 after giving more than thirty years of his life to service in law enforcement; and
Whereas, after his retirement from law enforcement, Mr. Porter founded and served as the executive director of Choices Charter School, founded in 2002 to give students expelled from both traditional and alternative schools one last chance to turn their lives around; and
Whereas, born in Panama City, Florida, Mr. Porter was the son of the late Ralph Raymond Porter, Sr. and Nora Moore Porter. He received an associate's degree in police science, a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, a master's degree in management, and was a graduate of the FBI National Academy's 146th Session; and
Whereas, Mr. Porter served in the United States Navy as a Second Class Petty Officer assigned to Explosive Ordinance Disposal as a diver. He served two tours in Vietnam; and
Whereas, Mr. Porter was married for forty-four years to Marlene, a school teacher, and the couple was blessed with one daughter, Samantha, and a granddaughter, both of whom live in Richmond, Virginia; and
Whereas, in addition to his professional duties, Mr. Porter was a member of the FBI National Academy Graduates Association, a lifetime member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the South Carolina Police Chiefs Association, a member of Disabled American Veterans, the Florence Kiwanis Club, the Masonic Hampton Lodge #204, the South Carolina Charter Schools Association, and was a lay speaker of Central United Methodist Church; and
Whereas, as evidence of his outstanding community service, Mr. Porter received the Boys and Girls Club Champions for Youth Award in 2011, and the Marion Medallion for Distinguished Service to the People of the Pee Dee by Francis Marion University, and the Florence Morning News in 2013; and
Whereas, described by his friends and family as faithful, humble, obedient, and a man of integrity, Mr. Porter always had the desire to help others. He was a man of great character and will be remembered for the legacy he left on the Pee Dee area; and
Whereas, his many contributions to those around him are immeasurable and he will be greatly missed by his family and many friends. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate:
That the members of the Senate, by this resolution, celebrate the life of Mr. Ralph Raymond Porter, Jr. of Florence and honor his many years of dedicated service to the Pee Dee area.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the family of Mr. Ralph Raymond Porter, Jr.
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