2017-2018 Bill 3472 Text of Previous Version (Jan. 12, 2017) - South Carolina Legislature Online

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A HOUSE RESOLUTION 10 11 TO RECOGNIZE LIONEL SMITH, LTD., OF AIKEN AT THE 12 CELEBRATION OF ITS FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY AND TO 13 CONGRATULATE THE COMPANY ON FOUR DECADES OF 14 OUTSTANDINGLY SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURIAL 15 ENDEAVORS. 16 17 Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased 18 to learn that Lionel Smith, Ltd., a downtown Aiken landmark and 19 wellknown men’s clothier, turned forty years old in March 2016; 20 and 21 22 Whereas, behind every successful business is a visionary with a 23 plan. Lionel Smith (“Smitty” to all Aikenites) is the visionary 24 legend behind Lionel Smith, Ltd. A man with an infectious smile 25 and a genuine interest in every person he meets, Smitty established 26 Lionel Smith, Ltd., in March 1976; and 27 28 Whereas, born and raised in North Carolina, Smitty moved to 29 Edgefield when his father purchased the Edgefield Bottling 30 Company in 1959. The move proved providential for him. At 31 Edgefield High School, he met Dot Burton, who became his high 32 school sweetheart, later his wife and “best friend of fiftyfive 33 years.” He also took a parttime job at the Belk Edgefield store; and 34 35 Whereas, because he loved clothes and was good at selling and 36 getting on with people, he progressed in his Belk training and took 37 over management of the boys’ department at the Belk Aiken store 38 in 1961. He learned much from early business mentors Manley 39 Peeler and Manning Owen. In the late 1940s, Mr. Owen opened a 40 men’s store with Charles Thomas to create OwenThomas. In time, 41 Ernest McCreary joined the firm, and the enlarged partnership 42 enticed Smitty to leave Belk in 1965; and

[3472] 1 1 2 Whereas, in 1966, Smitty and Ken Akin were running the store 3 and buying the merchandise. In 1971, Smitty formed a partnership 4 of his own with two Augusta businessmen who owned highend 5 men’s clothing stores. As a result, LeGrande’s opened in August 6 1971 and occupied space on Laurens Street near what is now the 7 Hotel Aiken. Smitty opened his own business, Lionel Smith, Ltd., 8 in 1976; and 9 10 Whereas, in 1981, Smitty restored the firegutted Abe Wolf’s 11 Famous Brand Shoes and enlarged it. Lionel Smith, Ltd., opened 12 in the restored building in 1982 and over the years has continued to 13 prove its staying power through exceptional customer service and 14 tasteful merchandise of high quality; and 15 16 Whereas, Smitty’s prominence in, and commitment to, Aiken is 17 evident in the honors he has received over the years from the 18 community. In 1982, he was named Small Businessman of the 19 Year by the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce and in 1990 20 Retailer of the Year by the Men’s Apparel Club of the Carolinas. 21 Still an Aiken force in 2013, he was again honored by the Greater 22 Aiken Chamber when he was named Man of the Year; and 23 24 Whereas, Smitty and Dot Smith are the parents of two children, 25 Van and Kelli, the former of whom now runs the store with his 26 business partner, Danny Minolfo. However, Smitty, having no 27 thoughts of retirement, still works at the Laurens Street store on 28 the corner of the Alley. He’s still the legend behind the store, still 29 the man who remembers everyone’s name, still the salesman who 30 can nail the size of his customer without a measuring tape; and 31 32 Whereas, appreciative of its longtime contributions to the 33 prosperity of the Palmetto State, the House of Representatives 34 takes great pleasure in honoring Lionel Smith, Ltd., and its 35 dynamic entrepreneurial heart, Mr. Lionel “Smitty” Smith, on the 36 occasion of the company’s fortieth anniversary. Now, therefore, 37 38 Be it resolved by the House of Representatives: 39 40 That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, 41 by this resolution, recognize Lionel Smith, Ltd., of Aiken at the 42 celebration of its fortieth anniversary and congratulate the

[3472] 2 1 company on four decades of outstandingly successful 2 entrepreneurial endeavors. 3 4 Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to 5 Lionel Smith, Ltd. 6 XX 7

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