A senate RESOLUTION

TO CONGRATULATE ROGER WILLIAMS UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT, TO COMMEND HIM FOR HIS THIRTY-THREE YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE with THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, AND TO WISH HIM MUCH HAPPINESS AND FULFILLMENT IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate are pleased to recognize Mr. Roger Williams upon the occasion of his retirement from the South Carolina Department of Mental Health; and

Whereas, Mr. Williams has improved the lives of individuals living with mental illness by serving in various roles during his career with the SCDMH, including serving as an American Sign Language interpreter, a social worker, and a program coordinator at Patrick B. Harris Psychiatric Hospital and as Director of Deaf Services and Executive Director of the Spartanburg Area Mental Health Center; and

Whereas, Mr. Williams has accomplished much during his time at the SCDMH, including establishing an inpatient unit for Deaf Services, spearheading efforts to open a community residential alternative for Deaf patients, and working with teams to establish Communication Skills Assessment for patients with dysfluency and training standards for mental health interpreters; and

Whereas, over the years, Mr. Williams has received a number of honors and awards, including the South Carolina Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf's Interpreter of the Year award, the Richland Sertoma Club's Service to Mankind award, the Barbara Stone Foundation's HumanServices Professional of the Year award, the SCDMH Employee of the Year award, and the United Way of the Piedmont's Tom Barnett Volunteer of the Year award; and

Whereas, under his leadership as the director of the South Carolina Mental Health Commission, more than two million dollars were procured each year in new grant funding for creative community services from a variety of competitive sources in State, Federal, public, and private sectors; and

Whereas, Mr. Williams has shown devotion to the field and has displayed dedicated service to the mentally ill throughout the course of his career. His contribution to the people and the State of South Carolina has been significant and impactful. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, congratulate Mr. Roger Williams upon the occasion of his retirement, commend him for his thirty-three years of dedicated service with the South Carolina Department of Mental Health, and wish him much happiness and fulfillment in the years ahead.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Roger Williams.

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