A concurrent RESOLUTION

TO REQUEST THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE PORTION OF THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 26/UNITED STATES HIGHWAY 76 BRIDGE THAT CROSSES INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 20 IN RICHLAND COUNTY "SOLOMON-GIBBONS MEMORIAL BRIDGE" AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS AT THIS BRIDGE CONTAINING THESE WORDS.

Whereas, Dr. Walker E. Solomon Sr. and Dr. Carlos W. Gibbons were leaders in education and civil rights advocates; and

Whereas, during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, Dr. Solomon served as the executive secretary of the Palmetto Education Association and Dr. Gibbons served as the executive secretary of The South Carolina Education Association. When faced with turbulent, unjust violence, both answered the call to chart a new course and draft a new chapter of history in merging both teacher organizations together, thus setting an example for the children of a new generation that we as South Carolinians and moreover, as Americans, can do all things better together; and

Whereas, by this merger, made effective April 1, 1968, these organizations became known as The South Carolina Education Association, creating a more perfect union than just black and white. The merger also created the largest joining of two professional organizations in state history to that date, with a combined membership of nearly twenty-five thousand educators across South Carolina; and

Whereas, with this merger, our great State saw the first teachers organization in the nation answer the call to integrate, a history of which we are proud; and

Whereas, it would be fitting and proper to recognize Dr. Walker E. Solomon Sr. and Dr. Carlos Gibbons for their decades of public service in championing civil rights, promoting education, and achieving so much for all people of South Carolina by naming a bridge in Richland County in their memory. 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 South Carolina Department of Transportation name the portion of Interstate Highway 26/United States Highway 76 bridge that crosses Interstate Highway 20 in Richland County "Solomon-Gibbons Memorial Bridge" and erect appropriate markers or signs at this bridge containing these words.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the South Carolina Education Association and that a copy be forwarded to the South Carolina Department of Transportation.

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