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TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR MARGARET "MOM" COURTNEY, AUTHOR OF THE JAMES F. BYRNES FOUNDATION, FOR HER OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FOUNDATION'S JAMES F. BYRNES SCHOLARSHIPS.
Whereas, it is altogether fitting and proper that the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives should pause in their deliberations to commend Margaret "Mom" Courtney for her indispensable role in the James F. Byrnes Foundation; and
Whereas, a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Journalism in 1946 at the age of nineteen, she served as a mentor, friend, life coach, and surrogate mother for some five hundred college-aged students who came to love her as Mom Courtney; and
Whereas, established in 1948, the James F. Byrnes Foundation, now celebrating it seventy-first year, was founded to award scholarships to South Carolina students who have lost one or both parents; and
Whereas, funding for the James F. Byrnes Scholarships originally came from the proceeds of two books written by Governor James F. Byrnes, Speaking Frankly and All in One Lifetime, and today they are funded from charitable contributions made by past scholarship recipients and from a small number of corporate donations; and
Whereas, from 1973 to 1993, Ms. Courtney served as the executive secretary of the James F. Byrnes Foundation, and during that time she developed frank, tough, loving, and caring relationships with five hundred scholars in order to help them navigate their young lives. Many of them still call her Mom Courtney; and
Whereas, since the James F. Byrnes Scholarship was first awarded in 1949, more than one thousand South Carolina students have received the scholarship; and
Whereas, Ms. Courtney, an honorary Byrnes Scholar herself, was the primary author of a book entitled The James F. Byrnes Foundation, about Governor and Mrs. Byrnes, the eponymous foundation, and stories chronicling the lives of many Byrnes Scholars as they overcame the obstacles of losing a parent at an early age; and
Whereas, a proud native and lifelong resident of the Palmetto State, she also authored a book on the history of Horrell Hill entitled Life on the Hill; and
Whereas, in addition to her wide range of accomplishments, Ms. Courtney reared two fine daughters who have blessed her with the affection of four grandchildren; and
Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives deeply values the crucial role that Margaret Courtney has had in the continued success of the James F. Byrnes Foundation and in developing a generation of leaders across our great State. 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 Margaret "Mom" Courtney, author of The James F. Byrnes Foundation, for her outstanding contributions to the foundation's James F. Byrnes Scholarships.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Margaret Courtney.
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