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TO CONGRATULATE GREENWOOD MILLS ON ITS ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY AND TO WISH THE COMPANY MANY MORE YEARS OF PROSPERITY AND SUCCESS.
Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly is pleased to learn that Greenwood Mills, originally known as Greenwood Cotton Mill, celebrated its one hundred twenty-fifth anniversary on October 5, 2014; and
Whereas, the company, founded by William Lowndes Durst on October 5, 1889, began as a single cotton mill with seventy-five employees. While the first one hundred years of Greenwood Mills were marked by change and turbulent periods, the company's trajectory was mostly upward. Despite facing some consolidation in the 1980s, it still counted itself among the largest textile companies in the country when it celebrated its centennial in 1989; and
Whereas, today, after a twenty-five-year period that saw it meet and overcome some of its most daunting challenges, that distinction no longer holds true, but it remains an important, distinguished player in this industry because of its adaptability and flexibility, investment in the latest technologies, its management team, a strong employee base, a resolute focus on the customer, a relentless pursuit of excellence, and its steadfast commitment to quality; and
Whereas, presently, about three hundred twenty-five employees work at the Harris Plant in Greenwood creating fabrics for the military, for work wear, and for industrial and specialty uses; and
Whereas, one of the shining lights of Greenwood Mills' past twenty-five years is SingleSource Apparel (SSA), a wholly owned subsidiary. Headquartered in Greenwood, SingleSource was the first U.S.-based vertically integrated manufacturer of denim jeans, jackets, and shirts. SSA continues today as a viable part of Greenwood Mills' operations and also has offices in Easley, where patterns are generated by computer and transmitted electronically to the manufacturing facilities; and
Whereas, Greenwood Mills supplies fabrics for all four primary branches of the U.S. military and to this day has the lion's share of business for basic uniform fabrics. The company also produces fabrics that are used in jackets, helmet liners, and chemical-protective suits. In addition, Greenwood Mills has been able to maintain its leading position in niche fabric markets, such as flame-resistant and industrial laundry; and
Whereas, the company's leadership has been a significant component of its success. Jay Self is the fifth member of his family to serve as president of the company, a line beginning with his great-grandfather, James Cuthbert Self, who became president in 1908 and served until his death in 1955; and
Whereas, looking back over the company's history, Jay Self is rightly proudest of his family's "ability to provide good-paying jobs and to give back to its community and State through the Self Foundation," which since 1942 has awarded more than sixty million dollars in grants to improve quality of life for the citizens of Greenwood and beyond in the Palmetto State; and
Whereas, wishing the company all the best in the years to come, the General Assembly takes great pleasure in congratulating Greenwood Mills on a century and a quarter of successful and respected work in the Palmetto 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, congratulate Greenwood Mills on its one hundred twenty-fifth anniversary and wish the company many more years of prosperity and success.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Greenwood Mills.
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