A concurrent RESOLUTION

tO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR Homer deerin "Billy" Shaw FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO HIS Community, State, AND Nation AND TO CONGRATULATE HIM UPON BEING NAMED THE 2024 Poultry Festival DISTINGUISHED CITIZEN.

Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly is pleased to learn that Homer Deerin "Billy" Shaw has been named the 2024 Poultry Festival Distinguished Citizen; and

Whereas, Billy was born in Leesville on November 10, 1935. He attended Batesburg-Leesville High School, where he was accomplished at football, baseball, and basketball. He has resided in the Batesburg-Leesville area all of his life, with the exception of his service abroad with the United States Air Force. After his time in the Air Force, he tried his hand at insurance sales, mobile home sales, and automobile sales but it was not until the early sixties that he found his true calling, auctioneering. He attended the Reppert School of Auctioneering in Indiana, and followed his passion for auctioneering all over the Southeast for the next sixty plus years; and

Whereas, his first true job as an auctioneer was at a local establishment that sat at the current location of Wiz's Eatery, Pat Lindler's Auction House. Billy never forgot that Pat gave him his start in the business, and he worked there until the auction house closed. Billy even had the honor of conducting the final sale at the auction house. After that point, his anchor job was at Rawl's Auction House, which is the oldest auto auction in the county. He was a staple at Rawl's for more than fifty years; and

Whereas, Billy is an active member of the Batesburg-Leesville Masonic Lodge, South Carolina Auctioneers Association, and a lifelong member of Leesville Methodist Church where he has served in several capacities through the years and remains regular in attendance and participation. He is a former member of the Leesville Town Council, Leesville Methodist Church Council, Leesville Fire Department, and Leesville Rescue Squard; and

Whereas, Billy especially enjoys spending time with his family and friends at cookouts, ball games, or on nights out on the town. He can be seen on most days driving around town running errands, at the post office, or working on his yard and garden. When he is not out and about, there is a good chance he is either watching an old cowboy movie, the Atlanta Braves, or the Carolina Gamecocks. He is a father of three, grandfather of six, and great-grandfather of ten. He is affectionately known as "Pa-Pa" to all sixteen grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and

Whereas, Billy has been an active part of the Poultry Festival since its inception and with the festival's predecessor, The Leesville Street Dance and Bar-B-Que. He has made great contributions to the festival, such as helping generate money by auctioneering at the festival's cake auction. Billy is an asset to the community and one of the many figures that makes Batesburg-Leesville so precious. He is more than deserving of the title of 2024 Poultry Festival Distinguished Citizen. 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, recognize and honor Homer Deerin "Billy" Shaw for his contributions to his community, State, and nation and congratulate him upon being named the 2024 Poultry Festival Distinguished Citizen.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Homer Deerin "Billy" Shaw.

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