A house RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR CAPTAIN Whitemarsh "Whit" Seabrook Smith III, President of the Charleston Branch Pilots Association, UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AFTER FIFTY YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE, AND TO WISH HIM CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

Whereas, it is altogether fitting and proper that the members of the House of Representatives of the State of South Carolina should pause in their deliberations to express their gratitude to Captain Whitemarsh ("Whit") Seabrook Smith III for his significant contributions to the Charleston Branch Pilots Association; and

Whereas, a native Charlestonian, Whit Smith earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from The Citadel and began working at the family-owned Port City Glass and Mirror until the harbor pilots' association offered him an apprenticeship in 1969; and

Whereas, in 1972, he was licensed as a pilot to board container ships and other vessels before they enter Charleston Harbor to guide them to their destination. He was elected president of the Charleston Branch Pilots Association in 1980 and again in 1987, a position he held until his retirement. He was the longest serving president of any harbor pilots' association in the United States. Since 1992, Captain Smith has also served as secretary-treasurer of the American Pilots Association in Washington, D.C., an organization that represents ninety-five percent of the nation's maritime pilots; and

Whereas, in 1999, he was first appointed to serve on the South Carolina Ports Authority's board of directors, the agency that owns and operates the Port of Charleston. Until his appointment, the board had never had a member whose livelihood was directly tied to the port. He would serve on the Ports Authority's board for twenty-one years and as its president from 2001 to 2004, a turbulent time for the port when business in the port had steadily dropped and a proposed terminal on Daniel Island was strongly opposed by residents, environmentalists, and politicians; and

Whereas, during Captain Smith's tenure as the Port's Authority board president, he testified before the United States Congress on a national debate on governance of maritime issues. His steady leadership and maritime knowledge created opportunities in the state's maritime industry critical to the port's resurgence and the enduring success of the Charleston Harbor; and

Whereas, Whit Smith also was the gubernatorial appointee for two other state commissions, and has served on numerous business development boards. He is a past president of Ashley Hall School for Girls, is an elder at First (Scots) Presbyterian Church and a charter member of Rotary Breakfast Club of Charleston, and has served as president of the Agricultural Society and Saint Andrew Society, and as commodore of Carolina Yacht Club; and

Whereas, among numerous awards, Captain Smith has been recognized by two statewide trade associations for his leadership in maritime and transportation affairs. In 2022, Governor Henry McMaster presented Whit Smith with the Order of the Palmetto, the State of South Carolina's highest civilian honor, for his vast accomplishments for Charleston's port and the state's maritime industry; and

Whereas, together with his beloved wife, Anne, he has reared three daughters who have blessed him with the affection of six loving grandchildren. Having lived in the same zip code all of his life, he plans to spend many hours in his retirement as of December 31, 2022, traveling, visiting his grandchildren, and fixing up his 190-year-old home in the quaint Town of Rockville on Wadmalaw Island; and

Whereas, grateful for his many years of distinguished service to Charleston Branch Pilots Association, the House of Representatives takes great pleasure in extending best wishes to Whit Smith as he transitions to a richly deserved retirement and the leisurely pace of the days ahead. 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 Captain Whitemarsh "Whit" Seabrook Smith III, President of the Charleston Branch Pilots Association, upon the occasion of his retirement after fifty years of outstanding service, and wish him continued success and happiness in all his future endeavors.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Captain Whitemarsh Seabrook "Whit" Smith III.

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