A concurrent RESOLUTION

 

TO request the Department of Transportation name the intersection of South Carolina Highway 153 and UNITED STATES Highway 123 in Pickens County "Senator Larry A. Martin Intersection" and erect appropriate markers or signs at this location containing these words.

 

Whereas, the consummate public servant, former State Senator Larry A. Martin has spent his entire life putting the needs and welfare of others first. He was the youngest member of the South Carolina House of Representatives for six years, and his thirty-eight years of total service in the General Assembly is a record for any member from Pickens County whose constituents he served; and

 

Whereas, born in Greenville to Edgar M. and Lois B. Martin on June 20,1957, Martin graduated from Pickens High School and attended Tri-County Technical College. He married Susan Lynn Evatt in 1983 and together they raised three children. He retired from Alice Manufacturing in 2018 with thirty-six years of service. Martin attends Pickens First Baptist Church where he has served as deacon, church moderator, and Sunday School teacher; and

 

Whereas, Martin served in the House of Representatives for fourteen years from 1979 to 1992, then transitioned to the Senate, where he served from 1993 to 2017. He was a leader in enacting tougher domestic violence laws, ethics reform, tort reform, stronger DUI laws, and more executive control of state agencies. He is believed to have been the only non-lawyer to serve as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee; and

 

Whereas, his years in the House were marked with tenure on the Economic Development Commission of the Southern Legislative Conference, and he was a leading member of the House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee. He was listed in Outstanding Men of America for 1979, in Who's Who in American Politics for 1981-82 and 1983-84, and in Personalities of the South for 1982-83; and

 

Whereas, Martin continued his outstanding level of constituent service as a member of the Senate beginning in 1993. During his more than two decades in this body he was honored as the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Public Servant of the Year in 2002, Legislator of the Year by the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina in 2004, Legislator of the Year for the Senate by the South Carolina Human Services Providers Association in 2005, and South Carolina Commission for the Blind Legislator of the Year in 2006. He also was named "Mental Health Champion" in 2006 by the National Alliance of Mental Illness; and

 

Whereas, among his many other accolades are the 2006 "Conservation Champion" award from the Conservation Voters of South Carolina, the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance "Defender of Manufacturing 2007" award, the Fraternal Order of Police "2007 Senator of the Year," the Home Builders Association of South Carolina "2008 Hammer and Trowel Award," special recognition of service by the South Carolina Baptist Convention in 2008, and South Carolina REALTORS "2009 Legislator of the Year" award; and

 

Whereas, in 2011 Martin was honored as the South Carolina Education Association "Friend of Education." In 2013 he was the MADD Legislator of the Year, South Carolina Sheriff's Association Legislator of the Year, and Behavior Health Services Legislator of the Year. He received the United Way "South Carolina Common Good" award for volunteerism in 2014.  He was bestowed the Order of the Palmetto, the State's highest civilian honor in 2016 by Governor Nikki Haley. The South Carolina Victim Assistance Network Public Service award for combatting domestic violence also came in 2016. He was named Public Servant of the Year, Upstate Forever in 2017, and the Greater Easley Chamber of Commerce honored him with the 2017 Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award; and

 

Whereas, Martin's community service involvement included a stint as president of the Pickens County United Way, chairman of the Governor's School-to-Work Council (1997-99), and a member of the Pickens First National Bank advisory committee. In retirement he serves on the Prisma Health Baptist Easley Hospital Foundation Board, the Pickens County Cancer Society Board, and the Pickens County advisory board for Upstate Warriors Solution; and

 

Whereas, it is only fitting and proper that Larry A. Martin, a native son who has devoted his life to God, family, community, and the State be recognized by having an intersection in Pickens County 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 South Carolina Highway 153 and United States Highway 123 in Pickens County "Senator Larry A. Martin Intersection" and erect appropriate markers or signs 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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