A house RESOLUTION

TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE PASSING OF Thomas Roy "Tom" YOUNG, SR., OF AIKEN COUNTY AND TO EXTEND THEIR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS LARGE AND LOVING FAMILY AND HIS MANY FRIENDS.

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives was saddened to learn of the death of Thomas Roy "Tom" Young, Sr., at the age of seventy-seven on January 13, 2023, but the members are grateful to realize it is the beginning of his eternal life with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; and

Whereas, born on May 19, 1945, he was reared in the mill town of Ware Shoals by loving parents, the late Roy Furman and Jessie Louise Ashley Young, who taught him and his sisters Margaret Gowan and Sandra Franks the values of faith, family, hard work, and integrity which guided him through life; and

Whereas, Mr. Young graduated from Ware Shoals High School in 1963, and as the first in his immediate family to attend college, he earned an associate's degree from Anderson College in 1965. In 1967, he earned a bachelor's degree in business from the University of South Carolina (USC) where he was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity; and

Whereas, in the proud tradition of the sons of South Carolina, Mr. Young enlisted in the South Carolina National Guard after graduation, serving eight years, earning the rank of Lieutenant, and was employed with Springs Mills in Fort Mill. In 1968, he began serving in the accounting department in Allstate Insurance Company in Charlotte and decided to pursue a career with Allstate in insurance sales; and

Whereas, in 1969, Mr. Young moved to Aiken and started selling insurance for Allstate from a booth in the Sears store on Whiskey Road, and by 1982, he had moved to a stand-alone Allstate agency. In recognition of his agency's customer service and success, he was inducted into the Allstate Insurance Company Hall of Fame in 2007, and the agency was named the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce's Small Business of the Year in 2019. The family agency today is led by his son Bryan; and

Whereas, he married his beloved wife, Delly O. Young, in 1969, and they built their marriage on the foundation of love and timeless values. Together, they reared two fine sons, Tom, Jr., and Bryan, who blessed him with the affection of four loving grandchildren; Hailey, Ashley, Granger, and Knox; and

Whereas, for over half of a decade, Mr. Young mentored others in business, insurance, banking, law, and athletics, an impact which extends across the Palmetto State and beyond through successful leaders and business professionals who attribute their accomplishments to his conversations and example; and

Whereas, Mr. Young served his community as chairman of the Aiken County Gamecock Club for over twenty years, as statewide chairman of the Gamecock Club Board of Directors for fifteen years, on the Anderson University Board of Trustees, USC Parents' Council, Clemson Parents' Council, Aiken County Transportation Committee, Rotary Club, and USC Aiken Partnership Board; and

Whereas, his greatest love was serving his church and the Lord. For fifty years, he was a faithful member of Millbrook Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon and as chairman of such committees as Finance, Personnel, and the Building committees. Under his leadership, Millbrook constructed its current sanctuary welcoming hundreds each week on South Aiken's Whiskey Road; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are grateful for the life and legacy of Tom Young, a true gentleman, and for the example of service, generosity, and kindness he set for all who knew him. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, express their profound sorrow upon the passing of Thomas Roy "Tom" Young of Aiken County and extend their deepest sympathy to his large and loving family and his many friends.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Thomas Roy "Tom" Young.

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