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TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR MAE BUZHARDT, BATESBURG BUSINESS ICON, FOR HER MANY YEARS OF VALUABLE SERVICE TO HER COMMUNITY AND TO WISH HER MUCH CONTINUED FULFILLMENT AND SUCCESS IN THE YEARS TO COME.
Whereas, it is with great pleasure that the South Carolina House of Representatives salutes individuals who give of their best to enhance life in their communities. Such is Mae Buzhardt, who for fifty-three years has been a linchpin of the Batesburg business community; and
Whereas, born in 1930 during the Great Depression, Mae began her education in a little country school near her family's home. She graduated from high school at age fifteen at a time when there were only eleven grades, following which she earned a two-year commercial degree with a minor in French at Lander College in 1948; and
Whereas, after returning home from Lander, Mae took up her duties at Milliken in McCormick, where she worked until she married Jug Buzhardt and moved to Batesburg. Her value as an exemplary employee was swiftly realized when she worked for a local bookkeeper and then Lake Shore Industries until her son, Michael, was born in 1961; and
Whereas, while Jug worked at his lumber business and later his car dealership, Mae began her career in the women's clothing business. She bought her first store from Bob and Betty Owen, who had purchased it from Miss Lona Etheridge. Mae learned how to run a store by just jumping in and doing what needed to be done. In 1969, Addy's across the street was for sale, and Mae acquired it. In 1975, she bought a store in Lexington, which she sold in 2011. The former Addy's became Mae's, and the store continues to stand in the Batesburg community as a favorite source for ladies' apparel; and
Whereas, when she could spare time from the Batesburg store, Mae exercised her business gifts in other directions. She directed weddings for close to forty years, opened a bridal shop in the Lexington store, and installed a men's shop in the Batesburg store; and
Whereas, today, Mae Buzhardt ranks as one of the two oldest still-active merchants in her community; and
Whereas, at home in Batesburg, Mae was the backyard neighbor of R. Guy and Martha Kennedy, South Carolina State Representative Ralph S. Kennedy's grandparents. Mae owned a pet monkey named Maria that the young Ralph and his brothers liked to feed and play with when they were boys. The families were business neighbors, too: Mae Buzhardt's ladies' dress store was, and still is, located next to Kennedy's Men's Store, founded in Batesburg by Representative Kennedy's father; and
Whereas, grateful for the tradition of excellence and integrity established by Mae Buzhardt and maintained throughout her long business career, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to congratulate her on more than half a century of service to the people of Batesburg and beyond. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor Mae Buzhardt, Batesburg business icon, for her many years of valuable service to her community and wish her much continued fulfillment and success in the years to come.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be provided to Mae Buzhardt.
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