South Carolina General Assembly118th Session, 2009-2010

S. 1081

STATUS INFORMATION

Concurrent ResolutionSponsors: Senators Alexander and L. MartinDocument Path: l:\council\bills\gm\24399dw10.docx

Introduced in the Senate on January 21, 2010Introduced in the House on January 26, 2010Adopted by the General Assembly on January 26, 2010

Summary: Harold Alexander McKeown

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date Body Action Description with journal page number 1/21/2010 Senate Introduced, adopted, sent to House SJ-61/26/2010 House Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence HJ-4

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

1/21/2010

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A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO EXPRESS THE SINCERE SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA UPON THE DEATH OF HAROLD ALEXANDER “MAC” MCKEOWN OF PICKENS COUNTY, AND TO EXTEND THEIR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS MANY FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina General Assembly were saddened to hear of the passing of longtime Clemson University friend Harold Alexander “Mac” McKeown of Pickens County on December 30, 2009, at the age of eighty-two; and

Whereas, one of eight children born to Sarah and Dewey McKeown, Mac McKeown attended Clemson University for one year before being drafted to serve in World War II; and

Whereas, two years later he returned, and in 1956 shortly after graduating in mechanical engineering, he opened the restaurant now known as Mac’s Drive-in with Dan Gentry in an old trolley; and

Whereas, Mac McKeown eventually bought the restaurant from Dan Gentry for two hundred thirty dollars, and it was the first restaurant featured on ESPN’s “Taste of the Town” segment during college football broadcasts; and

Whereas, though he sold the restaurant in 1980, he remained behind the counter often dispensing the drive-in’s famous tea and always willing to offer his clear, straightforward advice; and

Whereas, former Clemson head football coach Danny Ford noted that throughout the years Mac McKeown never went more than

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five miles from his restaurant, but he, nonetheless, knew more Clemson people than anyone; and

Whereas, in 1997, this common man with an uncommon heart was awarded the Order of the Palmetto, the state’s highest civilian award; and

Whereas, only hours before his untimely death, over a hundred people gathered in his hospital room as Clemson Mayor Larry Abernathy read a proclamation designating that day as Harold “Mac” McKeown Day; and

Whereas, out of the overflow of appreciation for this friend of the Clemson University family, a scholarship has been established in his memory known as the Mac McKeown Scholarship Endowment Fund; and

Whereas, the members of the General Assembly are grateful for the legacy of this Clemson icon who “put his faith in the Lord, put his confidence in the Lord, and lived to serve.” Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, express their sincere sorrow, upon the death of Harold Alexander “Mac” McKeown of Pickens County, and extend their deepest sympathy to his many friends and family members.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Betty Jean McKeown and Bill McKeown.

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