South Carolina General Assembly

122nd Session, 2017-2018

H. 4369

STATUS INFORMATION

House Resolution

Sponsors: Reps. G.R.Smith, Bedingfield, Willis, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Arrington, Atkinson, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Bernstein, Blackwell, Bowers, Bradley, Brown, Burns, Caskey, Chumley, Clary, Clemmons, Clyburn, CobbHunter, Cogswell, Cole, Collins, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Davis, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Duckworth, Elliott, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Forrester, Fry, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, Jordan, King, Kirby, Knight, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, McCoy, McCravy, McEachern, McKnight, Mitchell, D.C.Moss, V.S.Moss, Murphy, B.Newton, W.Newton, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Ridgeway, M.Rivers, S.Rivers, RobinsonSimpson, Rutherford, Ryhal, Sandifer, Simrill, G.M.Smith, J.E.Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Thigpen, Toole, Weeks, West, Wheeler, Whipper, White, Whitmire, Williams, Young and Yow

Document Path: l:\council\bills\gm\25060wab17.docx

Introduced in the House on June 6, 2017

Adopted by the House on June 6, 2017

Summary: Chief Howard Eugene "White Bull" Norris

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

DateBodyAction Description with journal page number

6/6/2017HouseIntroduced and adopted

View the latest legislative information at the website

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

6/6/2017

AHOUSE RESOLUTION

TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SYMPATHY OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AT THE PASSING OF HOWARD EUGENE “WHITE BULL” NORRIS, CHIEF OF THE STATERECOGNIZED PIEDMONT AMERICAN INDIAN ASSOCIATION/LOWER EASTERN CHEROKEE NATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

Whereas, with deep respect the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives honor the memory of Chief Howard E. “White Bull” Norris,who departed this life on May 18, 2017; and

Whereas, the son of the late Howard and Florence Norris, Chief Norris was born on November 27, 1940, in Canton, North Carolina,and served with distinction in the United States Air Force; and

Whereas, he followed military service with an awardwinning career as a graphic designer and artist. A lifelong artist and advocate, he retired as a production manager in advertising; and

Whereas, Chief Norris encouraged the continuation of traditional Native American Indian arts and crafts within his tribe and across the State and advocated for their inclusion through legislation and policy changes in South Carolina; and

Whereas, a dedicated public servant, he established Christmas in the Park in Simpsonville in 1991 to help needy families have a brighter Christmas, an initiative for which he was named Citizen of the Year and which has grown from serving seventy individuals to over five hundred each year; and

Whereas, Chief Norris served as a member of the Laurens County Community Relations Council and a board member of several nonprofit organizations serving Native American Indians in the State, and he established Kid’s Days at the tribal grounds to teach public school children about Native American Indian and Cherokee culture, serving thousands of school children each year; and

Whereas, a humble servant of the Lord, he assisted his beloved wife, Victoria, with Sunday school classes, volunteered with vacation Bible school, built sets for plays, and volunteered to clean the church he cherished, Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church; and

Whereas, devoted to his beliefs, Chief Norris was an outspoken prolife advocateand a passionate tribal leader for over thirty years, one of the founding members of the Piedmont American Indian Association (PAIA) in 1984, a member of the Governor’s Palmetto Indian Affairs Commission in 1986, and founder of the PAIA/ Lower Eastern Cherokee Nation of South Carolina as a Cherokee tribal communityin 1995; and

Whereas, Chief Norrisserved on the South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs’ Native American Affairs Ad Hoc Committee in 1999, where as a founding member he promotedlegislation and policy for state recognition of Native American Tribal communities; and

Whereas, in 2003, Chief Norris and other tribal community leaders saw the establishment of state recognition in South Carolina. He continued to serve on the Native American Advisory Committee as itschairman and was instrumental in the passing of the Native American Indian Marriage Bill; and

Whereas, Chief Norrisendeavored to ensure that his fellow Native Americanshad a level playing fieldwhenever their welfare was affected, and with his wife, he devoted himself, their income, and their personal assets to improving the status of Indian people in this State; and

Whereas, Chief Norris and his wiferaised three fine children: Dwight, Denise, and James. They were a force not be defeated nor ignored and who would light the path for otherswho could lead a people determined to take their rightful place in the history, culture, and rights afforded to citizens of South Carolina but often denied to Indians; and

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, celebrates the life of Chief Howard Eugene “White Bull” Norrisand honors his remarkable commitment to Native American affairs, and the members extend their deepest sympathy to his loving family, his tribal members, and his many friends. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, express their profound sympathy upon the passing of Howard Eugene “White Bull” Norris, Chief of the StateRecognized Piedmont American Indian Association/Lower Eastern Cherokee Nation of South Carolina.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Howard Eugene “White Bull” Norris.

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