S 1126

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
Bill 1126
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)
Recalled
April 29, 2026
S. 1126
Introduced
by Senator Devine
S. Printed 4/29/26--S.  [SEC
5/6/2026 10:57 AM]
Read the first time April 15, 2026
________
A senate RESOLUTION
TO HONOR AND CELEBRATE SOVEREIGN GRAND INSPECTOR
GENERAL EMERITUS TYRONE R. HARPER 33° FOR HIS COMMITMENT AND MANY YEARS OF
SERVICE TO HIS COMMUNITY, THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, AND THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA, AND TO RECOGNIZE JUNE 7, 2026, AS "SOVEREIGN GRAND INSPECTOR GENERAL
EMERITUS TYRONE R. HARPER DAY."
Whereas, Sovereign
Grand Inspector General Emeritus Tyrone R. Harper 33° of C.C. Johnson
Consistory number 136, Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of South
Carolina has served his military, civilian, fraternity, and church communities
of Columbia with honor, dignity, pride, and respect during twenty years of
active United States Army service, and over fifty years of faithful Masonic
Fraternity service. As a soldier, SGIG Emeritus Harper trained, mentored, and
led officers and enlisted soldiers during difficult times in Asia and Europe, performing
exemplary in all facets; and
Whereas, he was highly
decorated during his United States Army career for protecting this great
country, resulting in him being awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the
Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service
Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Army Service Ribbon, eight Good Conduct
Medals, the Overseas Ribbon fourth award for Non-Commissioned Officers, and the
Professional Development Award. SGIG Emeritus Harper was also recognized as the
Outstanding Drill Sergeant of the Cycle for multiple years as well as the First
Infantry Division Outstanding First Sergeant; and
Whereas, as a Prince
Hall Mason SGIG Emeritus Harper's service, commitment, and contributions to the
city of Columbia and the state of South Carolina have been noteworthy through
his mentorship of the youth in his community, church, and fraternity. SGIG Emeritus
Harper is a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Columbia. He is a life member
of the South Carolina National Association for the Advancement of Colored
People, a member of the 100 Black Men of Greater Columbia, Inc., a life member
of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4262 in Columbia, and was proclaimed an
Honorary Citizen of Kingsland, Georgia; and
Whereas, SGIG Emeritus
Harper was made a Mason in 1969 in George B. Swanston Military Lodge number 144,
Nuremberg, West Germany, Oklahoma Jurisdiction. He is a past Master of
Corinthian Lodge number 11, Columbia, and an honorary member of Capital City
Lodge number 47, Mt Olive Lodge number 434, and More Light Lodge number 468. A
member of Bright Star Chapter number 20 of the Holy Royal Arch Masons, a member
of Nile Commandery number 9, Knights Templar, former member of Nehemiah
Consistory number 56, and currently a member of C.C. Johnson Consistory number 136.
He is a former Noble of Abduhl Temple number 9 and is currently a Noble of
Cairo Temple number 125 of the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles Mystic
Shrine. Since 2002, he has been an honorary member of the Georgia Council of
Deliberation; and
Whereas, in honor of
his noble service, a scholarship and charitable donation award entitled Sovereign
Grand Inspector General Emeritus Tyrone R. Harper Scholarship and Charitable
Donation Award has been established. His contributions and achievements have
inspired countless Masons and generations of South Carolina citizens. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate:
That the members of the
South Carolina Senate, by this resolution,
honor and celebrate Sovereign Grand Inspector General Emeritus Tyrone R. Harper
33° for his commitment and many years of service to his community, the state of
South Carolina, and the United States of America, and recognize June 7, 2026, as
"Sovereign Grand Inspector General Emeritus Tyrone R. Harper Day."
Be it further resolved
that a copy of this resolution be presented to Sovereign Grand Inspector
General Emeritus Tyrone R. Harper 33°.
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This web page was last updated on May 06, 2026 at 10:58 AM