2015-2016 Bill 993: George Joseph Parness - South Carolina Legislature Online

1 South Carolina General Assembly 2 121st Session, 2015-2016 3 4 S. 993 5 6 STATUS INFORMATION 7 8 Senate Resolution 9 Sponsors: Senators Cleary, Rankin and Hembree 10 Document Path: l:\council\bills\rm\1411cz16.docx 11 12 Introduced in the Senate on January 13, 2016 13 Adopted by the Senate on January 13, 2016 14 15 Summary: George Joseph Parness 16 17 18 HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS 19 20 Date Body Action Description with journal page number 21 1/13/2016 Senate Introduced and adopted ( Senate Journalpage 58) 22 23 View the latest legislative information at the website 24 25 26 VERSIONS OF THIS BILL 27 28 1/13/2016 29 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A SENATE RESOLUTION 10 11 TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE 12 MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE UPON THE 13 DEATH OF GEORGE JOSEPH PARNESS OF MYRTLE 14 BEACH AND TO EXTEND THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO 15 HIS FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS. 16 17 Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate were deeply 18 saddened to learn of the death of George Joseph Parness of Myrtle 19 Beach on November 28, 2015, at the venerable age of ninety; and 20 21 Whereas, born on July 23, 1925, in Brooklyn, New York, George 22 was a firstgeneration American, a son of two immigrants. On 23 December 7, 1941, the bombing of Pearl Harbor convinced the 24 United States to join the Allies in their fight for freedom in World 25 War II. Within days, the patriotic young George, only sixteen 26 years old, wanted to get into the fight. He forged his birth 27 certificate and joined the U.S. Navy. After a quick boot camp, he 28 began service on a Navy destroyer; and 29 30 Whereas, after VJ Day and the end of the war, George returned 31 home but eventually reenlisted and served in the Korean Conflict. 32 He served aboard many ships during that deployment. During the 33 course of his military service, he was involved in battles that took 34 him from the North Atlantic to the Pacific, and over time he 35 traveled the world; and 36 37 Whereas, after returning from war, George met his wife, June, and 38 on February 12, 1954, they married and enjoyed more than sixty 39 years of marital happiness until her passing; and 40

[993] 2 1 Whereas, George learned the newspaper business and served in 2 various positions for several newspapers in Rockland County. 3 Later, he also served as a union delegate; and 4 5 Whereas, in 1976, George and his partner opened a small printing 6 company called Pronto Press. During this period of his life, George 7 served his community as president of the Suffern Chamber of 8 Commerce, Suffern Lions Club, and Suffern Rotary Club. In 9 addition, he was active in many service and military organizations 10 such as the Elks Lodge, Moose Lodge, and VFW and American 11 Legion posts in both New York and South Carolina; and 12 13 Whereas, in April 1989, George Parness was elected mayor of 14 Suffern, New York, a position in which he served for five terms. 15 He went on to be elected to the Rockland County Legislature, 16 where he served two terms as a county legislator; and 17 18 Whereas, in recognition of his spirit of excellence and dedicated 19 service, George Parness was granted various honors from the U.S. 20 military, U.S. Congress, New York State Governor George Pataki, 21 and numerous New York State and Rockland County legislators. 22 Further, the Village of Suffern Community Center was named in 23 his honor by the Village of Suffern mayor and trustees; and 24 25 Whereas, after the 1997 sale of Pronto Press and the expiration of 26 his terms of elected office, George and June retired in Myrtle 27 Beach with their sons, Andrew and Adam. George continued to 28 stay active in Myrtle Beach and Horry County politics and 29 volunteered in several positions within the Horry County 30 Republican Party, among other groups; and 31 32 Whereas, George Parness leaves to treasure his memory his sons 33 Andrew (Dorothy) Parness and Adam (April) Parness, five 34 grandchildren, three greatgrandchildren, and a host of other 35 relatives and friends. A man who spent his entire life serving 36 others, he will be greatly missed. Now, therefore, 37 38 Be it resolved by the Senate: 39 40 That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, 41 express their profound sorrow upon the death of George Joseph 42 Parness of Myrtle Beach and extend the deepest sympathy to his 43 family and many friends.

[993] 3 1 2 Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be provided to 3 Andrew Parness for the family. 4 XX 5

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