A concurrent RESOLUTION

 

to name the intersection of Harborview Road and Fort Sumter Drive on James Island in Charleston County "Thomas Lee Read Memorial Intersection" and erect appropriate signs or markers at this location containing these words.

 

Whereas, born May 10, 1930, in Dobbs Ferry, New York, Thomas Lee Read was a son of Thomas Carpenter and Helen Emerson Read. While still a child, the family moved to the James Island Community in Charleston where his dedication to service, development, and family began. Raised in the Riverland Terrace neighborhood, his connection to the area blossomed early; and

 

Whereas, a proud Eagle Scout, Read demonstrated leadership and commitment skills at a young age. He graduated from the High School of Charleston in 1947 and continued his education at The Citadel. The year 1952 was a monumental one for Read. He received his bachelor's degree in civil engineering, and he joined the United States Army where he served with honor and developed a strong sense of duty. But perhaps the most significant and lasting action he took that year was marrying Anne Dosher, a Wilmington, N.C., native, that marked the beginning of a lifelong partnership that would shape his personal and professional life. The union blessed them with four children, sons Thomas Jr. and William, and daughters Anne and Helen; and

 

Whereas, returning from military service, Read joined his parents in Read & Read, the family real estate and insurance business. His engineering expertise and business acumen quickly made him a driving force in the development of James Island. In the late 1950s, he and his father formed a lasting partnership with Frank Whitehurst, the landowner of what would become Lawton Bluff; and

 

Whereas, over the next five decades, Read played a pivotal role in shaping the development of the Lawton Bluff area, overseeing the design and layout of its subdivisions that included White Point, Whitehurst, St. Michael's Place, and Lawton Harbor. He was president of the Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS, served as president of the South Carolina REALTORS, and was honored as REALTOR of the Year in 1978; and

 

Whereas, with the passing of Whitehurst, Read and his brother Emerson became general partners and continued to grow the community, with Thomas and Anne building their "forever" home there. Additional development included the Harborview Shopping Center. Deeply committed to service, Read was instrumental in procuring the land that is now the Bishop Gadsden Episcopal Retirement Community and served as its trustee from 1983 to 1998 with a stint as board chair; he served on the board of directors of the Charleston Citywide Local Development Corporation, and was honored for his service by then Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. at City Hall. He retired as president of Read and Read REALTORS; and

 

Whereas, an avid photographer, he spent his years in retirement as a roving photographer, a hobby that took him around the world fusing his love for travel with his passion for photography- aerial shots of Charleston, stunning images of James Island, wildlife, and landscapes. His love of the land and community was evident in both his work and his art; and

 

Whereas, Read passed away peacefully on October 30, 2011, leaving behind a legacy of a life well spent devoted to family and community. It is only fitting and proper that Thomas Lee Read be remembered with a highway intersection in his beloved James Island Community named in his honor. 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 intersection of Harborview Road and Fort Sumter Drive on James Island in Charleston County "Thomas Lee Read Memorial Intersection" 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.

----XX---