A house RESOLUTION

 

to recognize and honor Kenneth Singleton for his dedicated community service and to congratulate him for the significant contributions of Singleton's Barbershop to his community.

 

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is grateful for Kenneth Singleton, a native of Beaufort, and for the leadership, mentorship, and life skills that he has imparted to so many citizens of Beaufort; and

 

Whereas, formerly, Mr. Singleton owned and operated Ladies and Gentlemen Preferred Clothing Store and Singleton's Gold Cab Company, and he served as a bail bondsman; and

 

Whereas, for more than five and a half decades, Mr. Singleton has employed over one hundred fifty youth and adults in the Beaufort community, as the owner and operator of Singleton's Barbershop and Mr. Ken's Unisex Salon; and

 

Whereas, he mentored his cousin, Larry Schepper, Beaufort's tennis coach and multichampion of the Beaufort Water Festival.  As a result of that mentorship, he was the person behind the scenes who helped to make it possible for many high school students to receive college scholarships in tennis to prestigious schools. In addition, he continues to encourage and gives advice to Dee Delaney of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a football player in the National Football League; and

 

Whereas, Singleton's Barbershop started in the year 1943 when Henry Singleton, the father of Ken Singleton, rented a small space of the cinder-block building located at 815 Charles Street in Beaufort to start a two-chair barbering business. Included in the building was a shoe shop, and on the other side of the wall in the middle of the building was Ms. Catherine Green's kindergarten that schooled up to fifteen children; and

 

Whereas, today this building is the oldest Black-owned business in Beaufort, and it has served and continues to serve as the meeting place for mentoring young men and boys about good grooming, good manners, and etiquette, but it also has a history of the developing and producing community leaders and professional athletes; and

 

Whereas, the business in that building has employed youth, physically challenged members of the community, and single parents alike in its eighty-one year history, and it has become the feeding ground where patrons can discuss politics, religion, sports, and community issues; and

 

Whereas, Singleton's Barbershop now employs four barbers, one of whom is Kenneth Singleton Jr. This cinder block building has meant so much to the community under the leadership and vision of Kenneth Singleton; and

 

Whereas, a faithful member of Grace Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Beaufort, Mr. Singleton is always charitable and willing to give a helping hand and employment to those in need in his community, especially children of single parents, who want to acquire a strong work ethic and learn financial responsibility; and

 

Whereas, Mr. Singleton's favorite Scripture is found in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." He attributes the longevity of his success in business to his mottos: "Become relevant," "Always give back," "Never give up," and "Always remember that God is in charge." 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 Kenneth Singleton for his dedication to community service and congratulate him for the significant contributions of Singleton's Barbershop to his community.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Kenneth Singleton.

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