A house RESOLUTION

 

TO CONGRATULATE Pat Harvey-Palmer OF beaufort COUNTY ON THE OCCASION OF HER eightieTH BIRTHDAY AND TO WISH HER MANY YEARS OF CONTINUED HEALTH AND HAPPINESS.

 

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are delighted to learn that Pat Harvey-Palmer of Beaufort County celebrated her eightieth birthday on January 21, 2024; and

 

Whereas, born on January 21, 1944, in the first half of the twentieth century, she has witnessed the many remarkable social changes, technological advancements, and international developments that have spanned the globe from that time into the first quarter of the twenty-first century; and

 

Whereas, less than a month before Pat's birth, her father, Bill Gaffney, died in WWII. Her mother, June Gaffney, remarried Ken Miller, who adopted Pat and worked for Sears Corp in South America. She spent her formative years in Peru, where Mr. Miller worked. Known for loving pranks herself, she set the example for her pets, a monkey named Paco and a macaw who used to sit on the concrete wall together watching children walk to and from school. The mischievous Paco would push the macaw off the wall, which forced the macaw to hop to the front door and peck to regain entrance; and

 

Whereas, during her teens in South America, she participated in high school sports, was eight years on the Peruvian Equestrian Team, and graduated from Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School in Lima, Peru. An accomplished horsewoman, she qualified for the Olympics, but could not participate. She attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, and spent time as a translator for the United Nations; and

 

Whereas, in real estate in Beaufort since 1978, Ms. Harvey-Palmer opened HomeTown Realty in 1992. For years, she served her profession on Professional Standards and Grievance committees and on the board of the Beaufort-Jasper County Realtors, as its president from 1989 to 1990 and from 2006 to 2007, and as treasurer in 2009. In 1981, she helped found the Lady's Island Business and Professional Association (LIBPA) and served as its president, on the board of directors, and as its treasurer; and

 

Whereas, loyal to her community, she has been active in the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce for decades and has served on many task force panels for Beaufort County and the City of Beaufort. She is a member and past chairman of the Beaufort Lions Club. She has assisted the Beaufort Lions Club by coordinating the Beaufort Christmas Parade, the Beaufort Water Festival Grand Parade, and the Veterans Parade. She has also served as a fire commissioner on the Lady's Island/St. Helena Fire District and as its treasurer; and

 

Whereas, her work was honored with the first Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year Award in 1986. She was honored with the Chamber's Civitas Pillar of the Community Award in 2023; multiple times as The Realtor of the Year; the South Carolina Realtors C. Dan Joyner Community Service Award in 2010; with Zonta Club of Beaufort Leadership Award in 2023, a role model for other women to enter the business world; as a Melvin Jones Fellow for Dedicated Humanitarian Service by Lions Club International Foundation in 2008; with induction into the South Carolina Lions Hall of Fame in 2018; and with a Civitas Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023; and

 

Whereas, in 1988, she married her beloved husband, Jim Palmer now retired from the Beaufort County Sheriff's Department, and she reared two fine children, Nancy Harvey of Port Royal and Mike Harvey of Lake Jackson, Texas.  She is blessed with two loving grandchildren, Noah and Jordan. An active member at St. John's Lutheran Church, she served the congregation on the Pastoral Search Committee and is famous for creating enthusiastic outings for church members; and

 

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to honor this daughter of South Carolina on her eightieth birthday and joins the congratulations of family and friends. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, congratulate Pat Harvey-Palmer of Beaufort County on the occasion of her eightieth birthday and wish her many years of continued health and happiness.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Pat Harvey-Palmer.

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