A concurrent RESOLUTION

 

TO REQUEST THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME A PORTION OF UNITED STATES HIGHWAY 21 SOUTH IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY FROM THE INTERSECTION OF WEST CHURCH STREET AND LONGTOWN ROAD TO THE RICHLAND COUNTY LINE "DONALD PRIOLEAU SR. ROAD" AND ERECT APPROPRIATE SIGNS OR MARKERS ALONG THIS STRETCH OF ROAD CONTAINING THESE WORDS.

 

Whereas, a lifelong resident of Fairfield County, Donald Prioleau, Sr., has dedicated himself to family, community, and church. The oldest son of the late James Prioleau, Sr. and Sara Dawkins Prioleau, he married Carolyn Y. Bell Prioleau and they are the proud parents of four children, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. He graduated from Fairfield High School in Winnsboro and has served as a professional truck driver in the trucking industry for forty-five years; and

 

Whereas, the first African American elected to the Ridgeway Town Council, he currently serves as that body's Mayor Pro Tem. He serves on the steering committee for "Pig on the Ridge", one of the State's largest barbecue festivals, launched the project that led to Ridgeway Family Practice locating in the town, led the proposal to save a historical school building that later became a museum, and played a key role in bringing water and fire protection into the rural areas of Ridgeway. He also served as alumni president of the Fairfield High School and was honored as Citizen of the Year for the Town of Ridgeway; and

 

Whereas, a devoted member of Lebanon Presbyterian Church, Mr. Prioleau was installed as an elder in 1981, serves as president of the Men's Council, and is a former Boy Scout Master of Troop #173, winning several local and state awards; and

 

Whereas, an active Mason, Mr. Prioleau is a member of Purity Lodge #42 where he is a past master. He led the push for construction of a new lodge and auditorium which were dedicated in 1984. In 1993, he was appointed special deputy of District 6 consisting of nine lodges in Fairfield County. He also served as district deputy for the 6th Masonic District, serving Chesterfield, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lancaster, and Marlboro counties. In 2017 he served as the honorary past Grand Master Prince Hall Affiliate for the State; and

 

Whereas, a member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Free Masonry, 136 CC Johnson in Columbia, Mr. Prioleau has served as honorary past commanding chief. He reached the pinnacle of Free Masonry in 1986 when he was elevated to the 33rd Degree Mason in Washington, D.C., bestowed upon those who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and service to the Brotherhood, as well as achieved remarkable professional and personal accomplishments. In 2015 in Memphis, Tennessee, he was coronated Sovereign Grand Inspector General Emeritus for the United Supreme Council for the Southern and Western Masonic Jurisdiction; and

 

Whereas, a past potentate (president) of the Shriner's Cairo Temple #125 in Columbia, Mr. Prioleau is a past captain of the temple's motorized department which competed and won several competitions and national championships under his leadership. Other accolades include Imperial Council Class A Motorcycle Championship winner, honorary Past Imperial Potentate in 2017, and he was a Legion of Honor inductee in 1986; and

 

Whereas, Mr. Prioleau's many service honors include accepting the Aide to the Deputy Award in 2014 from the South Carolina Council of Deliberations, the Social Impact Award from the 100 Men Group Building the Gap in 2015, and a legion of other awards for dedicated and committed service to the community and organizations throughout Fairfield County; and

 

Whereas, it is only fitting and proper that we pay homage to Mr. Donald Prioleau, Sr., a native South Carolinian, for a life well lived tirelessly giving to his community and county by naming a road in Fairfield County in his honor. 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, request the Department of Transportation name a portion of United States Highway 21 South in Fairfield County from the intersection of West Church Street and Longtown Road to the Richland County line "Donald Prioleau, Sr. Road" and place appropriate signs or markers at this location containing these words.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Department of Transportation.

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