A house RESOLUTION

 

to recognize and honor McCROREY-LISTON SCHOOL and to celebrate the school's seventieth anniversary.

 

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that McCrorey-Liston School will celebrate seven decades of educational excellence in May 2024; and

 

Whereas, in September of 1954, an educational institution was built in the western section of Fairfield County to satisfy the United States Supreme Court's ruling of "separate, but equal" education. Prior to the school's opening, the Fairfield County Board of Education sponsored an essay contest for high school students at Camp Liberty, the former high school, to select a name for the new school; and

 

Whereas, interested students were asked to write about a native educator of Fairfield County. Miss Valerie Martin shared first place with Miss Mamie Lou Pearson with essays about Dr. Henry L. McCrorey and Dr. Hardy C. Liston, both former presidents of Johnson C. Smith University; and

 

Whereas, McCrorey-Liston School opened its door to eight hundred twenty eager students, and Mr. Richard Brown served as the school's first principal with twenty-five teachers on the first faculty; and

 

Whereas, during Mr. Brown's tenure, the school produced numerous academicians, politicians, professional athletes, theologians, entrepreneurs, leaders in law enforcement, leaders in the military, highly skilled tradesmen, and other outstanding citizens across the nation. He retired in 1978; and

 

Whereas, in the same year, McCrorey-Liston School became two schools, McCrorey-Liston High School and McCrorey-Liston Elementary School. Following the retirement of Mr. Brown, many other high school principals continued the rich legacy that had been established, and the school continued to excel under the leadership of others; and

 

Whereas, the first principal of McCrorey-Liston Elementary School, Mrs. Evelyn U. Henry, was a true visionary. She became the elementary principal in 1978 and served as the "Mary McLeod Bethune" of education, working tirelessly to ensure that her students of western Fairfield County had the opportunity to receive a world-class education; and

 

Whereas, as the driving force behind the construction of the new McCrorey-Liston Elementary School, Mrs. Henry ensured that the place of learning would become her legacy to the community. Under her leadership, the school received national, state, and local recognition; and

 

Whereas, in 1986, the county's two high schools, McCrorey-Liston High School and Winnsboro High School, merged to form Fairfield Central High School; and

 

Whereas, on February 17, 1991, a dedication ceremony was held for the new McCrorey-Liston Elementary School and in 2011, the name of the school was changed to McCrorey-Liston School of Technology; and

 

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives values the prosperity that the visionary educators of McCrorey-Liston School brought to western Fairfield County and the benefits the school and its outstanding graduates have given to the Palmetto State. 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 McCrorey-Liston School and celebrate the school's seventieth anniversary.

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