A house RESOLUTION

 

to EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE PASSING OF Otto Wayne Corley 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 Otto Wayne Corley at the age of eighty-six on Tuesday, February 4, 2025; and

 

Whereas, born in Red Bank in 1938, he was the son of the late Otto Shull and Ruth Harmon Corley. Reared in a loving home with two siblings, Katherine "Kitty" Corley Spence and the late Webster Corley, he graduated from Lexington High School in 1956 and enrolled in the University of South Carolina; and

 

Whereas, Mr. Corley's undergraduate studies were interrupted to serve in the United States Army in counterintelligence from 1960 to 1963. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of South Carolina (USC) in 1965 and a juris doctorate from the USC School of Law in 1968. While attending law school, he worked as a page for then Lieutenant Governor Robert E. McNair; and

 

Whereas, he was elected to serve as the first national president of the Law Student Division of the American Bar Association, a newly formed organization at that time. After graduation from law school, he served in the governor's office as legal assistant to the governor, focusing on law enforcement, extradition, and legislative relations; and

 

Whereas, in 1971, Mr. Corley became one of three founding members of McNair Law Firm. From the firm's inception, he served as an executive leader until he relinquished his role of managing shareholder in 2004 to focus on his public finance law practice. He was instrumental in the development of the firm's public finance practice area, which over time became, and remains, one of the most respected in the Southeast, issuing bonds to obtain financing for many of the municipalities, counties, school districts, hospitals, airports, and publicly owned utilities in the State of South Carolina. During his career, he was involved in issuing bonds totaling in excess of thirty-four billion dollars. His prominence in this area of law earned him inclusion in the Best Lawyers of America, among other accolades; and

 

Whereas, devoted to his community, he served as president of the Summit Club of Columbia, as chair of the Carolina's Advisory Board of Bank of America, and as a member of the board of trustees of the University of South Carolina Business Partnership, the ETV Partnership Board, the board of the Palmetto Health Alliance Foundation, USC Board of Visitors, USC Law School Partnership, advisory board for the Darla Moore School of Business, Midlands Business Leadership Group, and the State Museum Foundation. He was also a member of the Palmetto Club and Forest Lake Club and was president of the South Carolina Debutante Ball; and

 

Whereas, a faithful member of Eastminster Presbyterian Church, Mr. Corley served the congregation as a deacon and as an elder. Always generous with his time and his resources, he loved to hunt, fish, and boat on Lake Murray or on the Congaree River all the way to Edisto Island; and

 

Whereas, together with his beloved wife of sixty-two years, Jacqueline "Jacquie" Splawn Corley, he reared two fine children, Lauren Kendall Corley of Columbia and Christopher Lawrence Corley of Mt. Pleasant. Their children blessed him with the affection of two loving grandchildren, Lillian Madison and Alexander Shull Corley; and

 

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are grateful for the life and legacy of Wayne Corley and for the example of service, excellence, and kindness 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 Otto Wayne Corley 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 Otto Wayne Corley.

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