A house RESOLUTION

TO recognize and honor John B. "Britt" Parker of Clarendon County for his distinguished fifty years of selfless, dedicated service in law enforcement in South Carolina.

Whereas, the members of the House of Representatives of South Carolina deem it altogether fitting and appropriate to pause in their deliberations to honor John B. "Britt" Parker for providing selfless, exemplary law enforcement service in the Palmetto State for over fifty years; and

Whereas, born in Belton and reared in Greenville, Britt Parker knew from the age of five that he wanted to be a state trooper with the South Carolina Highway Patrol; and

Whereas, after graduating from Greenville Senior High School in 1970, Britt went on active duty with the Army National Guard, and in 1973, he began patrol school to enter his dream profession. When assigned to Clarendon County as his duty station, he had to look at a map to find its location. He has made Clarendon County his home and been one of its most valuable citizens ever since; and

Whereas, throughout his distinguished law enforcement career, Britt has consistently embodied the South Carolia Highway Patrol's core values of integrity, excellence, accountability, and service; and

Whereas, Britt Parker is a generous public servant who goes above and beyond. He also has been known to provide tires, gas, and lodging to help motorists in need, creating enduring friendships in the process. Additionally, he has volunteered to assist with traffic control at University of South Carolina football games at Williams-Brice Stadium for forty-four seasons; and

Whereas, Britt officially retired from the highway patrol as a lance corporal in 2003, but soon returned to assist with patrol of I-95 in Post A at the request of Colonel Russell Roark. He continued his service to the highway patrol until he joined the Clarendon County Sheriff's Department in January of 2023 after forty-nine years of service. In his present duties with the department, he handles all funeral escorts and plays a vital role in visiting the elderly who are enrolled in the "Are You OK?" program; and

Whereas, in his spare time, Britt enjoys spending time at what his friends call his farm because he has made it home to numerous animals including chickens, dogs, cats, and the occasional roadside rescue animal. He also enjoys collecting John Deere tractors, Motorola equipment, guns, and old cars, including some of his former patrol vehicles; and

Whereas, in recognition of his fifty years of exemplary law enforcement service, Britt will deservedly be honored as "Law Enforcement Officer of the Year" by the law enforcement class at F.E. DuBose Career Center at its Fifth Annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Luncheon on May 10, 2024; and

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives takes great pleasure in congratulating Britt Parker for this honor, and is deeply grateful for his many years of distinguished law enforcement service to the citizens of South Carolina. 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 John B. "Britt" Parker of Clarendon County for his distinguished fifty years of selfless, dedicated service in law enforcement in South Carolina.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to John B. "Britt" Parker.

----XX----