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TO CONGRATULATE AND COMMEND THE HONORABLE JAMES H. "JAY" LUCAS ON HIS MERITORIOUS SERVICE IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OVER THE PAST TWENTY-THREE YEARS AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIS EFFORTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS, WHICH HAVE BENEFITED THE CITIZENS OF THIS STATE IN IMMEASURABLE WAYS THROUGH HIS SERVICE.
Whereas, since 1999, the Honorable James H. "Jay" Lucas has represented the citizens of House District 65 with steady faithfulness. He grew up in Hartsville, where his parents, Bobby and Shirley Lucas, instilled in him the importance of personal responsibility and the value of motivation, traits that have provided a firm foundation for his life in public service; and
Whereas, this proud Gamecock received his bachelor's degree in political science, Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of South Carolina, followed by a master's degree in public administration from the same institution. Upon graduation, he immediately went to work as financial director for the City of Bennettsville and then as county administrator for Fairfield County; and
Whereas, graduating third in his class, Mr. Lucas received his Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law. After graduation, he served as the Darlington County attorney and as a city judge for the City of Hartsville before becoming a partner with Lucas, Warr & White in 1994; and
Whereas, in 1998, he took the opportunity to fulfill another lifelong goal by running for public office. Because House District 65 had not been represented by a Republican since Reconstruction, he knew his election would be an uphill battle. Based on the results of this election, he earned the nickname "Landslide Lucas" from a former Speaker because he won by a mere handful of votes, thanks largely to a get-out-the-vote effort in the beloved town of Bethune. Currently representing portions of Darlington, Kershaw, Lancaster, and Chesterfield counties, he has never forgotten his roots and the concerns of those he represents; and
Whereas, after he had served on three different House committees, the last of which saw him making his mark on the state budget as a member of the Ways and Means Committee, in November 2010 his colleagues in the House elected him Speaker Pro Tempore. He went on to answer the call in 2014 and became Speaker, and in 2020 he was elected Speaker for a fourth and final term, honoring his word to limit his own terms in the most important leadership role in the House; and
Whereas, public service, and indeed public service with the dedication in which it was performed by Speaker Lucas, requires sacrifice not only from the public servant but also from their loved ones. Speaker Lucas has enjoyed the unwavering love and support of his wife, Tracy, and their son, Will, who has gifted the couple with their first granddaughter, Addilyn Erin. There is no doubt that he will be an amazing grandfather as there are no limits to this man's capacity to love and adore his family. Even in the midst of long days doing the people's business, he so enjoyed making the trip back and forth to support and cheer on Will as he played baseball in his youth; and
Whereas, Jay Lucas is a faithful member of Emmanuel Baptist Church and has leaned on his strong Christian faith as he has led the House through many important and sometimes contentious debates. Aided by his trademark sense of humor, reforms to the Transportation Department, reforms to Santee Cooper, long-needed critical funding of roads and bridges, and the removal of the Confederate Flag from the State House grounds were all accomplished at his hand and under his skillful leadership; and
Whereas, in recognition of his dedicated service to the people of this great State, he has been the recipient of numerous honors, among them the Riley Institute Wilkins Award for Excellence in Legislative Leadership, the South Carolina Manufacturing Alliance's Roger Milliken Defender of Manufacturing Award, and the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Public Servant of the Year Award; and
Whereas, understanding that Jay Lucas plans to retire as a House member at the end of his present term of office, his colleagues in the House of Representatives wish to thank him for his dedication to the people of District 65 and the citizens of this State as a whole. There are few who have made such an impact on the quality of life for all South Carolinians, and his accomplishments over his tenure in the House simply cannot be overstated. The members extend sincere good wishes for all the best life has to offer in the coming years to Speaker Jay Lucas and his family. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, congratulate and commend the Honorable James H. "Jay" Lucas on his meritorious service in the South Carolina House of Representatives over the past twenty-three years and acknowledge his efforts and accomplishments, which have benefited the citizens of this State in immeasurable ways through his service.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to our distinguished colleague, the Honorable James H. "Jay" Lucas.
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