A Concurrent Resolution s6

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 10 11 TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF JAMES HENRY HOLLINS, 12 WHO ON SEPTEMBER 12, 1963, ACTED ON HIS PERSONAL 13 COMMITMENT TO OPEN DOORS TO PUBLIC 14 HIGHEREDUCATION INSTITUTIONS TO ALL CITIZENS 15 AND ENROLLED AS THE FIRST AFRICANAMERICAN 16 STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA 17 BEAUFORT. 18 19 Whereas, James Henry Hollins was born August 15, 1928, the 20 eldest son of the Reverend Willie H. Hollins and Naomi Banks 21 Hollins. Raised in Mississippi, he attended public school and 22 graduated as valedictorian of New Hymn High School. The young 23 James was brought up on Christian principles and was a lifelong 24 student of the Bible; and 25 26 Whereas, he entered military service in 1945 as a member of the 27 Montford Point Marines, a group of African Americans who 28 desegregated the U.S. Marine Corps, and he served his country 29 proudly for twentythree years; and 30 31 Whereas, throughout America during James Hollins’ early years, 32 many citizens endured threats, humiliation, and physical harm in 33 their quest for civil rights and social justice; and 34 35 Whereas, on September 12, 1963, while stationed at Marine Corps 36 Recruit Depot Parris Island, U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant 37 James H. Hollins enrolled at the University of South Carolina 38 Beaufort (USCB), thereby becoming one of the first five 39 AfricanAmerican students to desegregate the University of South 40 Carolina during the twentieth century; and 41

[4569] 1 1 Whereas, in so doing, James H. Hollins, like fellow 2 AfricanAmerican students Harvey Gantt, James G. Anderson, 3 Henrie D. Monteith, and James L. Solomon, courageously faced a 4 segregated highereducation system in South Carolina and pursued 5 his legal and moral right to receive an education; and 6 7 Whereas, Staff Sergeant Hollins, in spite of anticipated tensions at 8 the University of South Carolina, stated that September 12, 1963, 9 was “just another day in the life of a Marine” and that he felt 10 welcomed by the faculty and students at the University of South 11 Carolina Beaufort campus; and 12 13 Whereas, through the efforts of James Hollins, acting as the sole 14 African American to enroll at USCB, through the support of six 15 fellow Marines who were not African American and who 16 accompanied him that semester, and with the support of the 17 faculty, students, administrators, and Beaufort Higher Education 18 Commission, the University of South Carolina Beaufort was 19 desegregated quietly and without incident; and 20 21 Whereas, James Hollins went on to complete his baccalaureate 22 degree and work as an analyst for EJ&E Railroad, later founding 23 Hollins Tax and Accounting in Joliet, Illinois, which he operated 24 for thirtythree years; and 25 26 Whereas, James H. Hollins passed from this life on January 5, 27 2014, having left a legacy that will mark him for all time as a 28 significant benefactor of this great State through the opening of 29 doors to higher education and civil discourse on human rights for 30 all South Carolina’s citizens; and 31 32 Whereas, grateful for his personal courage and leadership at a 33 watershed period in American history, the General Assembly takes 34 great pleasure in honoring and commending James Henry Hollins, 35 as well as the U.S. Marines who accompanied their fellow 36 serviceman on September 12, 1963, and the USCB faculty and 37 students of that era, with whom James peacefully began his 38 successful journey to a baccalaureate degree. Now, therefore, 39 40 Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate 41 concurring: 42

[4569] 2 1 That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this 2 resolution, honor the memory of James Henry Hollins, who on 3 September 12, 1963, acted on his personal commitment to open 4 doors to public highereducation institutions to all citizens and 5 enrolled as the first AfricanAmerican student at the University of 6 South Carolina Beaufort. 7 8 Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be provided to 9 the family of James H. Hollins. 10 XX 11

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