A concurrent RESOLUTION

 

TO REQUEST THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE PORTION OF gOVAN rOAD IN bAMBERG cOUNTY FROM ITS INTERSECTION WITH vOORHEES rOAD TO ITS INTERSECTION WITH UNITED STATES HIGHWAY 321 "wILLIAM h. nIMMONS, sR. rOAD" AND ERECT APPROPRIATE SIGNS OR MARKERS At THIS LOCATION CONTAINING THESE WORDS.

 

Whereas, born December 30, 1929, in the small community of Middle Place near Govan, South Carolina, William H. Nimmons was the youngest child and only son of Solomon and Daisy Nimmons. He also was the great-grandson of Isaac Nimmons, a former slave and coachman at the Sims Plantation near Midway; and

 

Whereas, his early education was received in a little one-room schoolhouse in the Middle Place Community, and he graduated from Voorhees Normal and Industrial School, later known as Voorhees High School. He continued his formal education, earning a bachelor's and master's degree from the Agricultural and Technical College in Greensboro, North Carolina, now known as North Carolina A&T University. Graduating from college, Nimmons was drafted into the United States Army, serving from 1951-1953, with a tour during the Korean War; and

 

Whereas, Mr. Nimmons' professional career was spent in education teaching science and chemistry at Richard Carroll High School in Bamberg before serving as the school's principal for two years. He later joined the administrative staff of Boy Scouts of America as director of the South Carolina Central Council in Columbia, a post he held for eight years; and

 

Whereas, returning to education, Mr. Nimmons became principal of Voorhees High School, served as project coordinator for Allendale County Public Schools, and as director of Allendale County Vocational School, from which he retired; and

 

Whereas, he was a lifelong member of Orange United Methodist Church serving as chairman of the trustee board, president of the United Methodist Men, chairman of the Pastor Parish Relations Committee, and a member of the Chancel Choir; and

 

Whereas, a life well spent in public service, Mr. Nimmons was one of the first two Blacks elected to Bamberg County Council where he served for thirty-three years. While serving, he was instrumental in creating Bamberg County Handy Ride and establishing the Olar-Govan-Middle Place Regional Water System. He was a force in getting the Voorhees Job Training One-Stop Center in Denmark through the Lower Savannah Council of Governments where he served for thirty-two years, and was a charter member of the Three Rivers Solid Waste Authority at Savannah River Site, serving for eighteen years; and

 

Whereas, he helped initiate the Bamberg Litter Control Program and was instrumental in getting the Bamberg County Animal Shelter established. He helped to obtain the Govan Solid Waste Convenience Center and to improve the Govan Fire Department. For his steadfast devotion and public service to the citizens of Bamberg, Mr. Nimmons was named the 2009 Bamberg County Citizen of the Year. Mr. Nimmons passed away September 24, 2019, having lived on Govan Road for sixty-two years; and

 

Whereas, with a life rooted in public service and devotion to his family and the community, it is only fitting and proper that Mr. William H. Nimmons be honored by having the street of his residence renamed for him. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

 

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, request the Department of Transportation name the portion of Govan Road in Bamberg County from its intersection with Voorhees Road to its intersection with United States Highway 321 "William H. Nimmons, Sr. Road" and erect 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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