South Carolina General Assembly
120th Session, 2013-2014
H. 4320
STATUS INFORMATION
House Resolution
Sponsors: Reps. Wood, Allison, Brannon, Chumley, Cole, Forrester, Mitchell, Tallon, Alexander, Anderson, Anthony, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bannister, Barfield, Bedingfield, Bernstein, Bingham, Bowen, Bowers, Branham, G.A.Brown, R.L.Brown, Burns, Clemmons, Clyburn, CobbHunter, H.A.Crawford, K.R.Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Edge, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gambrell, George, Gilliard, Goldfinch, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hardwick, Harrell, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Herbkersman, Hiott, Hixon, Hodges, Horne, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Kennedy, King, Knight, Limehouse, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mack, McCoy, McEachern, M.S.McLeod, W.J.McLeod, Merrill, D.C.Moss, V.S.Moss, Munnerlyn, Murphy, Nanney, Neal, Newton, Norman, H.L.Ott, Owens, Parks, Patrick, Pitts, Pope, Powers Norrell, Putnam, Quinn, Ridgeway, Riley, Rivers, RobinsonSimpson, Rutherford, Ryhal, Sabb, Sandifer, Sellers, Simrill, Skelton, G.M.Smith, G.R.Smith, J.E.Smith, J.R.Smith, Sottile, Southard, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Taylor, Thayer, Toole, Vick, Weeks, Wells, Whipper, White, Whitmire, Williams and Willis
Document Path: l:\council\bills\rm\1344htc13.docx
Introduced in the House on June 19, 2013
Adopted by the House on June 19, 2013
Summary: A. Tony Fisher
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
DateBodyAction Description with journal page number
6/19/2013HouseIntroduced and adopted (House Journalpage3)
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
6/19/2013
AHOUSE RESOLUTION
TO CONGRATULATE A. TONY FISHER, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY IN SPARTANBURG, UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT, TO COMMEND HIM FOR HIS MANY YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE, AND TO WISH HIM MUCH HAPPINESS AND FULFILLMENT IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives has learned that A. Tony Fisher, director of public safety in Spartanburg, will soon be retiring from a distinguished career spanning thirtyseven years, the past eighteen in his present position; and
Whereas, born July 16, 1950, the son of John Henry and Estelle Chenault Fisher of Greenwood, A. Tony Fisher holds early recollections of spending summers on his paternal grandparents’ farm in NinetySixand his maternal grandparents’ vegetable farm. At an early age, his mother instilled in him this useful principle: “If you want it and don’t have it, work to get it. Don’t ask for it to be given to you!”; and
Whereas, after attending Benedict College for one year, in 1969 he moved to Silver Spring, Maryland. While attending the University of Maryland, where he received his bachelor’s degree in business management in 1976, he was hired as a police cadet with the Montgomery County (Maryland) Police Department; and
Whereas, growing up in Greenwood, A. Tony Fisher never dreamed of law enforcement as a career goal since policing historically had been viewed negatively by African Americans. But he was determined to change that perception by working within the fieldto create opportunities for African Americans; and
Whereas, a firm believer that success comes through excellence and professional development, Tony Fisher diligently prepared himself for the career he had chosen. He was appointed a detective in 1978 and in this capacity could investigate major crimes. In 1982, while he was serving as chair of the National Black Police Association, the organization gained national recognition for its effort to “achieve equality in treatment of minorities by law enforcement agencies”; and
Whereas, appointed Takoma Park, Maryland, chief of police when he was only thirtythree, Mr. Fisher wasthe first African American to hold that position. For his outstanding achievements during his tenyear tenure as Takoma’s police chief, he was featured in various media, including a frontpage article in the Wall Street Journal; and
Whereas, in March 1995, he was selected for a fellowship to provide leadership and expertise for the Haitian government in the areas of police training and organizational development. In August of that same year, he was appointed to his present position as director of public safety for the City of Spartanburg, again paving the way as the first African American to hold the position; and
Whereas, since becoming director of public safety for Spartanburg, Tony Fisher has created strong partnerships with all segments of the community. His police division has been awarded national accreditation by the Commission on Law Enforcement Accreditation, and crime has decreased; and
Whereas, away from the office, Tony Fisher serves his community as a member of many organizations, includingDowntown Rotary, United Way of the Piedmont, and Big Brothers and Big Sisters. A recipient of numerous awards and honors, he has been featured in the Washington Post, ABC Nightly News, and Community Oriented Policing, a United States Information Agency film for global viewing; and
Whereas, the House of Representatives, grateful for the legacy of consistent commitment and excellence Tony Fisher has bestowed on this great State, takes great pleasure in wishing him well as he enters retirement and trusts he will find much enjoyment in the more leisurely pace of the days ahead. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, congratulate A. Tony Fisher, director of public safety in Spartanburg, upon the occasion of his retirement, commend him for his many years of dedicated service, and wish him much happiness and fulfillment in all his future endeavors.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be provided to A. Tony Fisher.
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