A house RESOLUTION

 

TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE PASSING OF KENNETH HARRISON "KEN" LESTER SR. OF RICHLAND COUNTY AND TO EXTEND THEIR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS LARGE AND LOVING FAMILY AND HIS MANY FRIENDS.

 

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives were saddened to learn of the death of Kenneth Harrison Lester Sr. at the age of eighty-three on Monday, March 10, 2025; and

 

Whereas, born in Wilson, North Carolina, on April 4, 1941, he was the oldest son of the late Lonnie H. Lester and Polly Woodall Lester and was reared in a loving home with siblings Dicke Lester of Myrtle Beach, Lon Lester of Cherry Grove, Flo Lester Vinson of Florence, and the late John Robert Lester; and

 

Whereas, he graduated from McClenaghan High School in Florence, where he was an All-American football player, and was a member of the baseball and basketball teams as well. He went on to earn a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of South Carolina (USC), where he played football for four years and baseball for two years, being named an Academic All-ACC football player in 1962; and

 

Whereas, after earning a juris doctorate from USC's School of Law, Mr. Lester practiced family law in Columbia, the founding partner of Lester and Hendrix Law Firm. He was a Diplomat in the American College of Family Trial Lawyers, limited to the top 100 family court trial lawyers in the nation. He was a Fellow and past president of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers consisting of 1,700 of the top matrimonial attorneys in the United States and Canada. For over twenty-four years, he served on the faculty of the Houston Family Law Institute, now the National Family Law Trial Institute, which is held nine days each year at South Texas College; and

 

Whereas, Mr. Lester was a longtime member of a close-knit group of national family court attorneys who called themselves "The Family." He was the honored recipient of the 2017 Platinum Compleat Lawyer Award from the South Carolina School of Law for his outstanding legal career; and

 

Whereas, a lifelong avid Gamecock fan, Mr. Lester was a member of the Letterman's Association and the Gamecock Club, serving as president of the latter in 1981. He was a member of "The Rambling Roosters," a group of former teammates who annually attended a pro football game coached by their former USC quarterback, Dan Reeves. After graduating from USC, he could be seen at almost every home football, baseball, and basketball game. Early in his legal career, he was a nationally ranked handball player and the owner of a sports complex in Columbia called The Courthouse. When his clients called his law office, his assistant could truthfully tell them that he was at The Courthouse; and

 

Whereas, a renowned storyteller, Mr. Lester liked serving others, loved people, and never met a stranger. Making friends and telling a familiar or a new story gave him great joy; and

 

Whereas, together with his beloved wife of sixty years, the former Rose Nell Bruorton of Hemingway, he reared three amazing children: Kristine Lester Long of Chapin, Kenneth Harrison Lester Jr. of Irmo, and Kelli Lester Lash of Charlotte, North Carolina. They built many wonderful family memories at their vacation home on Fripp Island. His children blessed him with the love of six adoring grandchildren who knew him affectionately as PopPop: Peter, David, Ginny, and John Lash, all four of Charlotte; and Kyle and Katelyn Long, both of Chapin; and

 

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are grateful for the legacy of Ken Lester, whose life, both professional and personal, embodied the ideals of service, and for the example of excellence and joy he set for all who knew him. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, express their profound sorrow upon the passing of Kenneth Harrison "Ken" Lester Sr. of Richland County and extend their deepest sympathy to his large and loving family and his many friends.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Kenneth Harrison "Ken" Lester Sr.

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